South Bend Tribune

Position breakdown: Next wave of Notre Dame football linebacker talent ready for action

By Mike Berardino, South Bend Tribune,

3 days ago

SOUTH BEND — Multiyear starters JD Bertrand and Marist Liufau have moved on to the NFL, but Max Bullough, linebackers coach for Notre Dame football , doesn’t want your sympathy.

From Bullough’s perspective, there’s no concern about inexperience beyond sixth-year linebacker Jack Kiser.

“Not at all,” said Bullough, newly promoted from graduate assistant to a full-time role. “We have youth, yes, but Jaylen Sneed has played a lot of football for us. Drayk (Bowen) played last year. We talk about the game. We live in the game. I’m not worried about it at all.”

Neither is Kiser, the 2018 IndyStar Mr. Football who remains a constant source of information and reassurance for the next wave of linebacker talent behind him.

Bowen, the 2022 IndyStar Mr. Football, is ready to step in at “Mike” linebacker after flashing on special teams as a freshman.

“He’s smart,” Kiser said. “He runs to the ball. Big hustle guy. He doesn’t make the same mistake twice. That’s something, too. You can count on him. He’s trusted.”

Sneed, the frontrunner at rover, has plan-wrecking capability but has yet to put it all together.

“You can just see the maturity coming with him,” Kiser said. “And that’s always been the issue. He’s always had all the talent.”

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In terms of raw talent, freshman Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa takes a back seat to no one. The early enrollee from Inland Empire, Calif., didn’t take long to open his new teammates’ eyes.

“Oh, my God, he’s so good for a freshman,” Sneed said. “Literally the first time I saw him, I was like, ‘Damn, this kid’s going to be really good for Notre Dame. I think he’ll be a really good player for us this year.”

Redshirt freshman Jaiden Ausberry rounds out the top five in Bullough’s rotation after getting a look in slot coverage during the spring.

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