Notre Dame’s trench talent got a strong showing in Bruce Feldman’s 2026 Freak’s List, with four Fighting Irish linemen landing on the annual rundown of college football’s most physically gifted players.
The headliner for Notre Dame was Francis Brewu at No. 24.
Feldman pointed to the defensive tackle’s eye-popping strength numbers and his production before arriving in South Bend. “A powerhouse who came in at No. 24 last year while playing at Pitt, Brewu had remarkable numbers, especially for being 19 years old at the time: squatting 685 pounds, bench pressing 475 and vertical jumping 33 inches at 280 pounds,” Feldman explained.
“He also was a force on the field, making 36 tackles and seven TFLs for the Panthers in his sophomore season.
“He’s since moved on to South Bend, where he’s up to 294 pounds and is now benching 500 pounds, the testing number he is most proud of,” Feldman continued. “The Irish have some freaky players on their defense; another who merited consideration is Jaylen Sneed, a 225-pound linebacker who vertical jumped 38 1/2 inches and broad jumped 10-3 this summer.”
Brewu, listed at 6-1 and 285 pounds in the article, was part of the push that helped revamp Notre Dame’s interior defensive line. He arrived after earning All-ACC Honorable Mention honors at Pitt, and he first drew major attention for his winter workout numbers in January and February.
Bryce Young came in at No. 50 and remained the only repeat Notre Dame name from Feldman’s list. The defensive end, the son of former ND and San Francisco 49ers great Bryant Young and former Irish track star Kristin Young, was No. 44 last year.
Feldman noted that at 6-6 and 260 pounds, Young is down 10 pounds from a year ago but still posted bigger explosion numbers. “At 6-6, 260 pounds (down 10 from last year), Young made a big jump in his broad jump (literally) from 9-5 to 10-2.
His vertical improved to 35 inches. His lifting numbers didn’t drop despite the weight loss; he squatted 455 to go with a 335-pound bench and 335-pound clean.
On the field in 2025, he had 20 tackles, two sacks and four QB hurries. As a freshman in 2024, he blocked three kicks and made 23 tackles.”
Young’s physical profile has long stood out, and this season he looks ready for a bigger national stage.
Anthonie Knapp checked in at No. 63.
Feldman highlighted the junior offensive lineman’s unusual early success and his offseason athletic gains. “The 6-4, 304-pounder started 27 games in his first two seasons after arriving as a three-star recruit,” Feldman said of the junior offensive lineman.
“He was Notre Dame’s left tackle in 2025. Knapp improved his athleticism this offseason, hitting a 33-inch vertical jump as well as a 9-2 broad jump.
He cleaned 345 pounds, squatted 585 and benched 405.”
Knapp’s path has been rare for Notre Dame up front, and he has already shown he can move people in the run game. He remains one of the strongest players on the roster.
The surprise name for many Irish fans was Elijah Hughes at No. 72.
Feldman tied the defensive tackle’s profile to his track-and-field background. “A former high-level shot putter in high school who began his college career at archrival USC, the 6-3, 295-pound Hughes had 21 tackles and three TFLs last year as part of a talented D-line,” Feldman said of the former Trojan transfer.
“Hughes’ explosiveness from his track background shows up well in his testing numbers. He broad jumped 9-9 1/2 this offseason.
To be almost 300 pounds and broad jump almost 10 feet is something. He also vertical jumped 33 inches, squatted 610 pounds and cleaned 345.”
Hughes did not make the loudest splash in his first season with Notre Dame, but he was productive when called on, and the physical tools are clearly there for more in 2026.
Notre Dame opponents also showed up on Feldman’s list, with Jackson Cantwell of Miami at No. 4, D’Andre Hardeman Jr. of Rice at No.
19, Junior Poyser of Wisconsin at No. 46, Marcus Bleazard of Navy at No.
51, Antoine Deslauriers of Syracuse at No. 52, Abu Sama II of Wisconsin at No.
53, Yamir Knight of SMU at No. 76, Javon Robinson of Wisconsin at No. 77 and Zach Rowell of Stanford at No.
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