Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM APRIL 2025 33 2025 S P R I N G F O O T B A L L O V E R V I E W BY JACK SOBLE S itting in the locker room after Notre Dame's 34-23 loss to Ohio State in the national championship game, a sullen DRAYK BOWEN was handed the torch. "This is your team now," a teammate told Bowen, accord- ing to Blue & Gold Illustrated's Kyle Kelly. In 2024, it was Jack Kiser's team. In 2023, it was JD Ber- trand's; 2022, Bo Bauer's; 2021, Drew White's. Bowen is next in a long line of linebackers to serve as the brain and heart of Notre Dame's de- fense. He deserves that role after 16 starts at Mike (middle) line- backer in 2024. Bowen racked up 78 tackles, including 30 defen- sive stops (tackles that result in a failure for the offense), and he earned high marks from Pro Foot- ball Focus in run defense, tackling and coverage. Each of the aforementioned play- ers — Kiser, Bertrand, Bauer and White — were captains. But they were also all fifth- or sixth-year veterans. Bowen is a junior, but he's still as strong a candidate for captain as anyone on the roster. He leads the youngest linebacker corps Notre Dame has seen in some time, but it might be the most talented, too. Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa actually out-snapped Kiser at Will (weakside) linebacker as a freshman in the national championship, playing 43 snaps against Ohio State. Notre Dame believes he has superstar potential, and his ver- satility plays well next to Bowen in the middle. Jaylen Sneed and Jaiden Ausberry bring the length and speed Notre Dame needs at Will, too, and both will be factors at rover when the Irish play base personnel. Max Bullough, in his third year leading the linebacker room and second with the official linebackers coach title, has some options for a fifth man if Notre Dame decides to rotate that many again in 2025. The starting lineup and eventual rota- tion should become clear during spring practice. The one constant in every scenario wears No. 34. LINEBACKERS POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH WILL LINEBACKER Our belief is that Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa will start next to Drayk Bowen, but Jaylen Sneed and Jaiden Ausberry won't let him win the job without a fight. The uber-athletic Sneed has waited a long time for his chance to start, and Ausberry began the 2024 season incredibly well before losing steam toward the end. All three will certainly contribute. PERSONNEL UPDATE Position Coach: Max Bullough (second season) Returning Starter: Jr. Drayk Bowen (16 career starts) Departing Starter: Jack Kiser (34) Projected New Starter: So. Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa Top Reserves: Sr. Jaylen Sneed (7), Jr. Jaiden Ausberry, Jr. Preston Zinter, Jr. Kahanu Kia, So. Teddy Rezac and So. Bodie Kahoun Newcomers: Fr. Madden Faraimo, Fr. Anthony Sacca and Fr. Ko'o Kia NUMBERS TO KNOW 5.7 Percent was Drayk Bowen's missed tackle rate, which ranked ninth in the country among line- backers. Jack Kiser, for what it's worth, was tied for fifth at 4.6. Bowen is a physical, old- school thumper in the middle of Notre Dame's defense, but he's more athletic than you think and an incredibly sure-handed tackler. 8 Quarterback pressures by linebackers out of Notre Dame's total of 13 in the Orange Bowl, with Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa leading the way with 3. With a beat-up defensive line, the Irish needed every ounce of pass-rushing juice they could muster. One of those pres- sures came from Jaylen Sneed, and it forced the most monumental interception in recent program history. 28.3 Percent chance for Notre Dame to land Madden Faraimo on national signing day, according to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine. All the buzz indicated that the top-100 linebacker out of the San Diego area would choose USC until Irish head coach Marcus Freeman dropped a bomb to open his NSD press conference. ALL EYES ON … FRESHMAN MADDEN FARAIMO Last year, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa entered an al- ready loaded linebacker room and proved without a doubt that he deserved a spot in the rotation. Fara- imo, the No. 80 overall player in the On3 Industry Ranking, has a chance to do the same. He's already started to turn heads throughout the winter, both on scout team during the CFP practices and in winter workouts. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER