Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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10 MAY 2024 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME UNDER THE DOME A player making his mark through smarts and athleticism, Irish junior Joshua Burnham made big strides last season when he appeared in all 13 games — as a special teams ace and a backup at the critical field-side (vyper) defensive end — and recorded 18 tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 sack and 2 quarterback hurries. Up about 40 pounds to nearly 255 since his freshman arrival as an early enrollee in 2022, and up about 10 pounds from last season, Burnham is expected to make major contributions this fall while backing up graduate transfer RJ Oben within a deep Irish defensive line position group. A versatile four-star player out of Traverse City (Mich.) Central High School, Burnham — the 2021 Gatorade Michigan Player of the Year — played linebacker and quarterback as a senior there and recorded 77 tackles, 12 tackles for loss and 2 interceptions on defense, with 955 passing yards, 1,516 rushing yards and 43 total touchdowns on offense. Blue & Gold Illustrated and other local media recently caught up with Burnham and discussed his steady improvement, his junior year expecta- tions, and what he needs to get out of spring ball. BGI: You appeared in all 13 games last season. What's the next step in your progression? Burnham: "We have a good group of guys ahead of us that are leaders, but I feel it's key that my [junior] class, we're also approaching that next level. So, I feel like we have to step up and take some leadership roles as well, and just help these young guys meet the standard that's been set years before." BGI: What did you take from last season that you can apply to this upcoming one? Burnham: "My interior game, being able to take on blocks and not get pushed out of the way. It definitely feels a lot nicer to have [the extra weight]. I feel really good. And with my frame, I feel like I can and should be able to add more. I just want to be able to maintain my speed." BGI: You've played behind some great defensive linemen since you've been here. What have you learned? Burnham: "I think there has been a very clear standard set ahead of us with those older guys. And with our class, I feel it's also our turn to step up and lead. I definitely want to prove myself more, take more leadership and just be more well-rounded in my game." BGI: How has the impressive depth at defensive line correlated to overall performance so far this spring? Burnham: "I think we've been cycling in about three plays each, so if you can't go 100 percent in three plays, then I don't know what to tell you. You just have to give it your all every single play, and we have the depth to get you a rest and feel good about it." BGI: How would you describe yourself as a player? Burnham: "Scrappy. With my speed, I feel like I am pretty quick. But I definitely want to have more power and be more efficient in pass rush- ing. On the interior, I'm going to take on more double teams." — Todd D. Burlage Five Questions With … Junior Defensive End Joshua Burnham Senior DL Jason Onye Is Up Next By Todd D. Burlage When Jason Onye recently entered the media room for spring football player interviews, he was impossible to miss. At a chiseled 6-foot-5 and 287 pounds, he favorably compared to a couple of other recent star Irish defensive linemen — Isaiah Foskey and Javontae Jean-Baptiste. Still overshadowed and a work in progress with only 19 career tackles, Onye will grab neither the preseason headlines nor the expectations that those two former teammates once did, at least not yet. But based on spring practice reports and observations, expect the fourth-year player with two years of eligibility remain- ing to make a similar senior splash that his contemporaries did. Granted, playing behind NFL prospect and potential All-American gradu- ate student defensive tackle Rylie Mills will obviously cap Onye's snaps and production in the fall. But within a loaded position group that will feature a deep rotation, Onye will get his chances after he appeared in all 13 games last season and recorded 17 tackles, while logging more defensive snaps (155) than any other reserve interior defensive lineman in 2023. Through demanding physical work and extensive time studying with Irish defensive line coach Al Washington, Onye entered this spring ready and able to take the next step in his college career. "I have the full confidence and full desire to go out there and do it," Onye said. "I'm excited for this season." As he should be, given he's the Notre Dame player most ready to climb from the shadows this fall. Sophomore DE Boubacar Traore Oozes Potential By Jack Soble There's a play from fall camp in 2023 that lives rent free in my head. I just can't shake it. I don't remember what the actual result of the play was. I couldn't tell you for sure who took the snap at quarterback. But I will never forget then-freshman vyper Boubacar Traore putting then-junior offensive tackle Ty Chan on his back with a straight-up evil long-arm move that drew gasps from reporters in attendance. Traore ducked past Chan on the next play, using his speed and agility to bend the edge to his advantage. That edge-bending and that ability to turn speed into power with the long-arm maneuver, you can't teach that. Those two reps made it no surprise, then, when Traore used that same duck- under move on USC's left tackle and strip-sacked Caleb Williams Oct. 14. With a rare in-game opportunity, the Boston native made a game-changing play. Traore has the pass-rushing traits to be a legitimate superstar at the vyper position, and he showed up to spring camp with his 6-foot-4 frame looking more filled out. Although Notre Dame returned all its vypers and graduate student Jordan Botelho is still the projected starter, junior Joshua Burnham is now focused on strong-side defensive end. Burnham's shift clears the way for Traore to make the depth chart, and he could climb higher on it with a productive offseason. Expect Traore to play significant reps in passing situations for the Irish this year. It would be surprising if he's not the starting vyper by 2025. Point ✦ Counterpoint: WHICH UNDER-THE-RADAR NOTRE DAME PLAYER WILL CONTRIBUTE IN 2024? Burnham — who notched 18 tackles, 4 tackles for loss and 1 sack in 13 games as a reserve in 2023 — has added 10 pounds to his 6-foot-4 frame this offseason and is expected to contrib- ute more during his junior campaign. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER ONYE TRAORE