Did you know that Notre Dame is in the middle of a quarterback battle? You mean people haven’t been talking about that enough? Obviously, those questions are built on sarcasm, with the names CJ Carr and Kenny Minchey being the ultimate SEO hacks right now. Who starts behind center in the opener against the Miami Hurricanes is the only thing people seemingly want to talk about.

Believe it or not, however, the Fighting Irish have several other position battles that are still raging on. They might not be quite as exciting to talk about to some, but they will be vitally important for Notre Dame to make a championship run heading into the 2025 college football season. These battles should also be decided soon. 

Here are those position battles, and where things currently stand. 

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Who starts next to Adon Shuler? 

When you talk about the safety position for Notre Dame, it is the healthiest it has been in a long time. We know that Adon Shuler will hold down one starting spot, coming off of a really nice 2024 season when he recorded 59 total tackles, three interceptions, and eight pass breakups. Shuler has taken on a huge role as a leader on the back end. 

As of today, I expect a combination of Jalen Stroman and Luke Talich to play the most opposite of Shuler. Both players have reportedly had good camps, bringing a nice combination of size, physicality, and consistency. While those are the two who could see the most action early on, they will have to fend off youngsters Tae Johnson and JaDon Blair. Both are extremely talented and could find their way onto the field a good bit this season. 

Latest at right guard 

When Charles Jagusah was injured earlier this offseason, it appeared that the most likely replacement until he got back healthy was going to be redshirt sophomore Sullivan Absher. While there appears to be some confidence in Absher, it is important to note that Guerby Lambert has been getting reps inside lately as well. My prediction is that Lambert does get the nod against Miami because he’s just too talented to keep off the field. 

Jaylen Sneed hype 

Heading into the offseason, I assumed that Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa or Jaiden Ausberry would become the starting WILL, which was vacated by Jack Kiser. Both players will play a lot, and linebackers coach Max Bullough has already said that the Irish will have a heavy four-man linebacker rotation. Along with Drayk Bowen and Jaylen Sneed, those are the players you will see every Saturday. 

Based on inconsistency in the past, I mostly assumed Sneed would be the fourth in that rotation and used more in a situational role. You have to give Sneed a lot of credit. He seems to have matured a lot heading into his senior season, and he is also carrying over 230 pounds comfortably. It appears that he will most likely be the starting WILL heading into the season. 

What’s the DT rotation look like? 

When you talk about the defensive tackle spots, the projected “starters” isn’t as crucial a conversation. Notre Dame is going to have four to five guys who will play a lot inside. Your top five right now are Gabriel Rubio, Jared Dawson, Jason Onye, and Donovan Hinish. Then, you have Elijah Hughes and Armel Mukam, who are essentially fighting to be that fifth guy in the rotation. 

The bigger question is who will be the main snap getters and difference makers on the interior. I like things I’ve heard about Dawson and Hinish, but I’m buying into the Onye hype. As long as he stays healthy and engaged, he could become the biggest difference maker inside. Regardless, this is going to be the deepest Notre Dame has been at defensive tackle in several years.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish News

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Ryan Roberts