Notre Dame’s defensive line just took a pair of hits to close out the year - and both could have ripple effects heading into 2026.
First came the news that defensive lineman Donovan Hinish is stepping away from football due to medical reasons. That alone was a tough blow for a unit already needing to retool. But just a day later, the Irish lost another key contributor: veteran edge player Josh Burnham announced he’ll be entering the NCAA Transfer Portal when it opens on January 2.
Burnham’s departure stings not just because of his experience, but because of the momentum he was building. At 6-foot-4 and 260 pounds, the Traverse City, Michigan native was a physical presence off the edge and one of the more versatile pieces in Notre Dame’s front seven. He played in all 12 games this past season and appeared in 40 total since arriving with the 2022 signing class.
And while he’s always been a steady rotational player, Burnham arguably played the best football of his career down the stretch in 2025. As the Irish surged to a 10-2 finish - and found themselves controversially left out as the first team on the outside looking in of the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff - Burnham was right in the thick of it.
His most talked-about moment of the season didn’t even come on defense. In the regular-season finale at Stanford, Burnham pulled off one of the most unexpected plays of the Irish’s season: a perfectly lofted fake-punt pass that found Luke Talich, who took it 84 yards to the house. It was a highlight-reel play in a blowout win, and a testament to the kind of athlete Burnham is - not just a pass rusher, but a guy who can make a game-changing play in any phase.
But don’t let that trick-play touchdown overshadow his defensive impact. Burnham had three solo tackles in that same Stanford game, and just weeks earlier, he notched two sacks in Notre Dame’s statement win over then-ranked Pittsburgh. He was coming into his own as a disruptive presence, showing flashes of what made him such a highly regarded recruit.
Now, with one year of eligibility left, Burnham will look to finish his college career elsewhere. For Notre Dame, it means replacing not just a veteran body, but a player who had grown into a key contributor - and who still had room to elevate his game even further.
The Irish will have to lean on their depth and development heading into the offseason. With the Transfer Portal open from January 2 through January 16, there’s time to make moves. But losing both Hinish and Burnham in the span of 48 hours is a reminder: roster turnover doesn’t wait for spring ball.