Notre Dame football enters fall camp with championship expectations, and the defensive side of the ball is a massive reason why.

Head coach Marcus Freeman’s squad returns a loaded roster led by second-year defensive coordinator Chris Ash, a wave of returning talent, key transfer portal additions, and a dynamic 2026 true freshman class. With practices now underway and real data to work from, here is my updated projected 2-deep depth chart for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish defense heading into the Sept. 6 season opener against the Wisconsin Badgers at Lambeau Field.

This is not a depth chart released by Notre Dame. It is my projection based on what we know from fall camp so far.

Defensive line

Defensive end

1. Bryce Young, junior 2. Keon Keeley, redshirt junior

Nose tackle

1. Francis Brewu, junior. 2. Tionne Gray, redshirt sophomore 3. Sean Sevilano Jr., redshirt sophomore

Defensive tackle

1. Armel Mukam, redshirt junior 2. Jason Onye, redshirt senior 3. Elijah Hughes, senior

Defensive end

1. Boubacar Traore, redshirt junior 2. Rodney Dunham, freshman

This has a chance to be the deepest Notre Dame defensive line room we have seen in a very long time. Even with Christopher Burgess out due to injury, the Fighting Irish could go six deep at defensive tackle to begin the 2026 season. The defensive end room also has a chance to be special with the Traore and Young duo returning. That bookend pairing has a chance to be one of the better combinations in college football. Add in Keeley and true freshman Rodney Dunham, and this group has a chance to be dynamic.

Linebackers

MIKE linebacker

1. Drayk Bowen, senior 2. Jaiden Ausberry, redshirt junior 3. Madden Faraimo, sophomore

WILL linebacker

1. Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, junior 2. Jaylen Sneed, redshirt senior

This group has a strong argument as the deepest linebacker room in the country. With Viliamu-Asa seemingly ahead of schedule from the ACL injury he suffered late last season, he has a chance to be the best overall linebacker in the country. Bowen brings multiple years of starting experience to the table and is a hammer in the run game. With players like Ausberry, Sneed, and Faraimo as the key rotational pieces, this group can go five deep with anyone in the country.

Secondary

Boundary cornerback

1. Leonard Moore, junior 2. Jayden Sanders, sophomore

Field cornerback

1. DJ McKinney, redshirt senior 2. Mark Zachary IV, sophomore

Nickelback

1. Christian Gray, senior 2. Dallas Golden, sophomore

Boundary safety

1. Adon Shuler, redshirt junior 2. Luke Talich, senior

Field safety

1. Brauntae Johnson, redshirt sophomore 2. Ethan Long, redshirt freshman

You can also throw true freshman Joey O’Brien into the mix on the back end at safety.

This group is the deepest we have seen in South Bend in a very long time. It is led by All-American cornerback Leonard Moore, who has a chance to be a top-5 selection in the 2027 NFL Draft. Johnson also has first-round upside, while Shuler, McKinney, Christian Gray, and Talich all have some draftable feedback around the NFL. The younger talent is incredibly impressive as well, although they will not have to be as highly pressed into action as they have been in some years past.

From top to bottom, this Notre Dame defense has a legitimate claim as one of the most talented and deepest units in the country. If Ash can put it all together, Freeman’s squad has every reason to believe 2026 is the year the Fighting Irish take a massive step.