Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1534445
28 MAY 2025 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED two games back, the Sugar and Orange Bowls, Notre Dame used him mostly as a situational pass rusher. With that depleted defensive line, they needed everything he had left in the tank. And he gave it to them. "We knew when he got back, he'd contribute," linebacker coach Max Bullough said. "He's someone that's on the field, you're gonna feel him." Viliamu-Asa led the Irish with 3 quar- terback pressures in the Orange Bowl. On the other side of the ball, running back Aneyas Williams caught 5 passes for 66 yards, including a 36-yarder to Players Signed: 23 Players Available In 2025: 23 2024 Recruiting Rankings: No. 11 by On3, No. 10 by 247Sports and No. 9 by Rivals Name Pos. Ht. Wt. Taebron Bennie-Powell S 6-1 183 Redshirted due to August shoulder surgery; will likely be another year before he challenges for playing time. CJ Carr QB 6-3 209 Dealt with elbow injury and only played 4 snaps in one game, but will com- pete for QB1 job in 2025. Micah Gilbert WR 6-2 200 Dropped his lone target (a would-be touchdown) during redshirt season; could grab rotational role in 2025 but missed spring due to hand injury. Karson Hobbs CB 6-1 188 Played in nine games as the primary backup at both corner spots and nickel; seems ticketed for that role again in Year 2. Tae Johnson S 6-2 193 Missed most of 2024 (foot) but served as backup corner upon return; flashed in spring practice and will contribute in some capacity in 2025. Peter Jones OL 6-5 308 Played 3 offensive snaps against Purdue; could push for backup guard spot in 2025. Bodie Kahoun LB 6-2 229 Appeared in three games of mop-up duty late in the year; reportedly pro- gressing well but linebacker room might be too stratified for 2025 impact. Anthonie Knapp OL 6-4 294 Started 15 games at left tackle, a program record for a freshman, and held his own with above-average 62.5 PFF offense grade. Projected to keep starting left tackle job in 2025. Guerby Lambert OL 6-7 334 Redshirted with three regular-season games played (plus three more in the CFP); shoulder surgery hurts chances but could compete for starting job. Jack Larsen TE 6-3 250 Played in two games, earning a redshirt; had opportunity in spring practice with thin tight end group. Leonard Moore CB 6-2 190 Became full-time starter in Week 8 and earned FWAA Freshman Defensive Player of the Year honors. Allowed 11 receptions on 30 targets in final five games; will likely be a first- or second-team preseason All-American. Cole Mullins DE 6-5 262 Missed all of 2024 with a knee injury; likely buried on crowded depth chart but a name to watch for in 2026. Styles Prescod OL 6-6 297 Redshirted due to August shoulder surgery; candidate for reserve role on of- fensive line. Teddy Rezac LB 6-3 220 Played in eight games on special teams but kept a redshirt; should find prominent special teams role in 2025 and challenge for playing time in 2026. Logan Saldate WR 6-0 186 Redshirted with only one game played; candidate for depth role and/or rotational snaps out of the slot. Sean Sevillano DT 6-2 341 Played in three games and kept redshirt; one of several young defensive tackles competing for playing time but impressed in limited action last season. Loghan Thomas VYP 6-4 213 Finished third on Irish with 194 special teams snaps; must add weight but will be key special teamer and perhaps situational pass rusher in Year 2. Kennedy Urlacher S 5-11 195 Burned redshirt after eye-popping garbage time performance at Purdue; like Johnson will help in some capacity in 2025. Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa LB 6-3 231 Totaled 37 tackles (2.5 for loss) as rotational linebacker and played critical role in Orange Bowl victory with 3 quarterback pressures; could start at Will linebacker in Year 2. Aneyas Williams RB 5-10 201 Claimed third-down running back role (which he'll retain in 2025) and averaged 6.4 yards per carry; also came up huge in Orange Bowl with 5 receptions for 65 yards including 36-yarder to set up second-half touchdown. Cam Williams WR 6-2 200 Played one snap as a freshman; made progress in spring ball and could fight for backup role at boundary receiver. Bryce Young DE 6-7 260 Earned Notre Dame's special teams player of the year award with 3 blocked kicks and added 3 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks; has All-American upside and will compete for starting job. Kedren Young RB 5-11 235 Redshirted but impressed in garbage time with 21 carries for 116 yards; could see the field but breakout year unlikely until 2026. Defensive end Bryce Young earned the team's special teams player of the year award as a freshman, blocking 3 kicks and terrorizing blockers in kickoff coverage. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER Sophomore Class Review