Notre Dame football sits at 4-0 heading into this weekend’s matchup against the North Carolina Tar Heels.

Head coach Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish are ranked No. 3 in the latest AP poll, and a big reason for that is arguably the best defense in the entire country. With playmakers on all three levels, it is a difficult task to find any potential weakness in defensive coordinator Chris Ash’s units.

The challenge instead becomes a rich man’s problem: how do you get your younger, talented players on the field at positions that aren’t necessarily a weakness?

There might not be a clearer example of that dilemma than five-star freshman defensive end Rodney Dunham, who has showcased over the last couple of weeks that he is ready to contribute both physically and technically.

Dunham’s early impact

The 6-4, 242-pound 2026 Notre Dame signee has flashed over the last two games, including collecting his first career sack on Saturday against Purdue. He also had an impressive quarterback hurry the previous week against Michigan State.

The biggest takeaway was not limited to his impact as a pass rusher against the Boilermakers. Dunham was also very strong in the running game, a rare trait for a freshman who is already creating discourse about the best path for getting him on the field.

It is not hyperbole to suggest that Rodney Dunham might be the most talented pass rusher on Notre Dame’s roster. That does not mean he is the best right now.

With the starts that both Boubacar Traore and Bryce Young have put together, there is no way Dunham is going to push for a starting role this season. Young, listed at 6-6 and 260 pounds, has been one of the breakout stars for this elite Notre Dame defense, while Traore is one of the most productive pass rushers returning in college football.

Finding ways to get Dunham on the field

There are going to be games like Miami, BYU, SMU, and hopefully a deep playoff run where Notre Dame needs to affect the passer at the highest level. Based on the early flashes this season, getting Rodney Dunham on the field in those types of opportunities might be the most advantageous thing Ash’s defense can do.

We haven’t seen it a ton so far, but there is a potential wrinkle the staff could utilize. A player like Young, who is a bigger defensive end, could move inside in obvious passing situations. You could also toy with that possibility with Keon Keeley, listed at 6-5 and 270-plus pounds.

Both players have the frame and the power to rush from the interior. The reason for exploring that alignment is to get someone like Dunham on the field more rushing off the edge, or even potentially in a spy role where his closing speed becomes a major asset against a quarterback who is a little more fleet of foot.

The possibilities along this Notre Dame defensive line run deep. Interior defensive linemen like Francis Brewu and Armel Mukam, along with Tionne Gray, add to some intriguing pass-rush options working from the inside. When you are playing in the biggest moments of a football game and need to turn up the heat on the opposing passer, getting as many of your talented pass rushers on the field as possible is a very good strategy.

What to watch over the next several weeks

Over the next several games, outside of Dunham simply playing more as he continues to get comfortable, I’m also going to keep my eyes open to whether Young and Keeley start getting some inside pass-rush opportunities. That could set up for a fun NASCAR package similar to what we saw with Bryce Young two seasons ago when he was a true freshman.

Dunham might end up being too good to keep off the field. While he won’t demand a starting role this fall, there is no reason he can’t have a huge impact for Notre Dame this season when the games start mattering a whole lot more.