Notre Dame 2025 Defensive Recruiting Class Is Loaded With Potential Play Makers

The 2025 defensive recruiting class for Notre Dame has a slightly different outlook than the offensive class. Both sides of the ball are extremely stacked in South Bend, but there's a handful of defensive players that will definitely see a lot of minutes either on defense as a part of the two-deep rotation or on special teams as a starter. Out of the 14 total defensive recruits in the class, five of them were early enrollees this spring. This class is loaded with impact talent, some were already here in the spring while other players will be arriving on campus shortly. 

Notre Dame brought in five defensive line recruits during the 2025 cycle, and only one of them was an early enrollee, defensive tackle Davion Dixon. Dixon was off to an impressive start during winter workouts, but an injury kept him sidelined during spring practice. Edge rusher Christopher Burgess will be arriving in the summer; he's the leading candidate to crack the rotation along the defensive line. The 6-3 245 pound Chicago native is an explosive athlete and twitchy off the edge. With a handful of edge rushers returning from injury as the offseason progresses, Burgess will have his opportunity to leave an impact early in the summer and into fall camp. 

Fellow defensive linemen Joseph Reiff, Gordy Sulfsted and Dominik Hulak will also be arriving on campus this summer. Hulak is probably next in line to see some minutes this fall, but the defensive line room as a whole is extremely deep this season. However, their development will be crucial for future seasons. Unlike the offense, there will be several members in the trenches out of eligibility after the 2025 season. Hulak, Sulfsted, Reiff, Burgess and Dixon will have to be ready whether their number is called this season or next. 

At linebacker, Notre Dame brought in three guys who will continue to add to their current loaded depth chart. Anthony Sacca a converted safety and Ko'o Kia, the younger brother of Kahanu Kia will arrive on campus this summer. Due to the depth in the room, it's unlikely either player will see many minutes on defense, but they could have an impact on special teams. Fellow freshman linebacker Madden Faraimo, however, might crack the tail end of the rotation. 

Faraimo is still pretty raw and looked a little lost at times during the spring. He was the lone early enrollee amongst the linebackers. Faraimo made some mistakes in the spring, but he did it at 100 miles an hour. His athleticism, length and speed caught my attention immediately. Once the lightbulb goes on for him, it will be difficult for Max Bullough or Chris Ash to keep him off the field. 

The secondary is where you will, most likely, see the most impact from the 2025 defensive class. Notre Dame and Mike Mickens brought in a haul of guys who will see some meaningful minutes this fall. Early enrollee safety JaDon Blair is currently leading that charge. The 6-5 North Carolina native had a very impressive spring and solidified his spot within the safety rotation. The chances aren't extremely high, but it's not impossible that Blair cracks the starting lineup at some point throughout the season. 

Fellow safety Ethan Long and cornerback Cree Thomas were also on campus this spring for the Irish. Thomas had a really promising spring and added his name into the list of candidates fighting for a spot within the cornerback rotation. Long will likely redshirt this season, but his length, size and speed could make him a valuable asset to Marty Biagi and the special teams unit.

Prized cornerback recruits Dallas Golden and Mark Zackery will also be arriving to South Bend this summer. Both players were highly touted recruits for Notre Dame and both players will have the opportunity to insert themselves in the two-deep throughout the remainder of the offseason. Golden will likely be at the nickel position, and he will also likely contribute on special teams as a return man. Zackery is the more natural corner of the two players. He will join Thomas taking reps at both the field and boundary spots to help round out the depth in the cornerback room.

Both Golden and Zackery are former four-star recruits and were amongst some of the best cornerback prospects in the country. It will be difficult for Ash and Mickens to keep them off the field this fall.  Fort Wayne native Brandon Logan will also be joining the team this summer. He will likely be a special teams player this upcoming season; Logan is a relatively raw prospect and is still learning how to be an all around football player. The lessons he'll learn his freshman year behind guys like Adon Shuler and Jalen Stroman will pay major dividends as his career progresses. 

Realistically, there's about five players in this defensive class I can confidently say will likely see meaningful minutes this upcoming season in some fashion. Burgess, Faraimo, Zackery, Golden and Blair are all impact players who are extremely athletic with high ceilings. Barring injury, it's unlikely they crack the starting lineup, but with another projected long season ahead, the 2025 class will need to be ready if and when their number is called.