Notre Dame still has a few spots on its depth chart that bring questions into camp’s final stretch, but the defensive line is not one of them.
That was the message Marcus Freeman sent when he broke down the group at his fall camp closing press conference. The Notre Dame coach sounded especially energized about the defensive tackle room.
“One would be the defensive tackle position,” stated Freeman. “We're deep with a lot of guys that will play, a lot of guys that could start.
It's great competition. Those guys really had a good camp.”
That kind of depth matters for a program that has dealt with recruiting issues on the defensive line in recent years. It’s part of why Notre Dame went into the Transfer Portal for Francis Brewu and Tionne Gray. But the biggest buzz right now is coming from a player already in the building.
Armel Mukam has put together the kind of camp that can change a rotation. Mukam, who entered the portal over the winter before returning to the Irish, has emerged as a real factor inside and could push for major snaps, maybe even a starting job.
“Armel has really had a great camp,” Freeman said. “His leadership is showing. He's not only a leader by the way he plays, but his vocal leadership is showing up, and he's making those people around him better.”
Mukam appeared in all 12 games last season and finished with 5 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. After what Freeman said Friday, the expectation seems to be that his role could grow significantly in 2026.
The depth isn’t limited to the interior, either. Notre Dame has plenty of options at rush end, where Keon Keeley, Loghan Thomas and freshman Rodney Dunham have all drawn notice.
Keeley’s rise since arriving in South Bend from Alabama has been one of the main reasons Freeman feels so good about the group. The coach said Keeley has shown he can be counted on, and he credited him for adjusting quickly to a new system. Freeman also said Keeley has outplayed some of his teammates along the way.
Thomas has made his own leap. He had been pushed down the depth chart in part because he was even smaller than some linebackers and defensive backs, but he has added weight and made better use of his frame during camp. Freeman said effort was never the issue with Thomas; now, the production is catching up.
With Wisconsin still two weeks away, Notre Dame has some uncertainty elsewhere. Up front, though, the Irish look loaded.
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