Jaylen Sneed Could Be Poised For A Breakout For Notre Dame In 2025

Notre Dame's defense has the opportunity to be dominant once again this upcoming season under new defensive coordinator Chris Ash. He will be relying on a slue of veterans to be impactful once again. The linebacking core for the Irish is one of the deepest in the country, and their most veteran player returning in that room has converted from a situational backer into an every down player. 

Jaylen Sneed has been with the program the longest out of the returning linebackers in 2025. Sneed joins starting middle linebacker Drayk Bowen as the two players in that unit who have played more than 600 career snaps. In 2023, Sneed played 231 snaps and played in 39 snaps in 2022 in a year where he redshirted. He brings 7-3 career snaps to the table heading into his redshirt junior year. 

This past season, Sneed played in all 16 games and started in six of them. He started against Northern Illinois, Louisville, Georgia Tech, Georgia, Penn State and Ohio State. In previous year, including earlier in the season in 2024, he was used more situationally in pass rushing situations from the nickel. Towards the end of 2024, however, he became a more well rounded player and starting playing in more first and second down snaps as opposed to just third downs. 

He finished the year with 51 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 6.0 tackles for a loss, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. As a pass rusher, he tallied 16 total pressures in 2024 according to PFF which included five hits on the quarterback and seven hurries. Towards the back half of the season, he started seeing more minutes as a true every down linebacker. He was one of the players that was giving Georgia problems in the Sugar Bowl, recorded a tackle for a loss on the first series of the game. 

Throughout the season, his athletic ability continued to flash, and that peaked in Notre Dame's magical post season run. Seven of his 16 pressures recorded on the season came in the playoffs between Indiana, Georgia, Penn State, and Ohio State in the National Championship. Sneed was a bit more stout against the run as the season progressed, playing assignment correct football and filling the correct gaps. Sneed was also pretty decent in coverage. He was only targeted 16 times but only allowed 64 receiving yards and didn't give up a touchdown. He was also instrumental on one of Penn State's final drives of the game, pressuring Drew Allar which forced an errant throw which Christian Gray intercepted which put the Irish in prime position to kick the game winning field goal.  

Sneed will join fellow linebackers Jaiden Ausberry and rising sophomore Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa in the battle to replace Jack Kiser in the starting lineup this fall. Sneed returns with the most starts out of the bunch which could give him an edge during the offseason into fall camp. It's a strong bet that linebacker coach Max Bullough and Coach Ash will continue to rotate this linebacking unit based on how much talent will be scattered throughout the room. Early enrollee true freshman Madden Faraimo will also be competing to add his name into the rotation along with Preston Zinter, Teddy Rezac, and Bodie Kahoun. 

Sneed will be relied on for his leadership and veteran presence in the room alongside Bowen. If he is able to take the next step in developing his game, he will be a prime candidate for an impact season this year as Notre Dame looks to return to the National Championship stage.