Sports
Inside the Big 12's bet on private equity to close revenue gap, compete in the NIL era
CBS Sports Headlines
SportsFeature
Notre Dame Defensive End Bryce Young Will Play A Major Role In 2026
TL;DR
Notre Dame defensive end Bryce Young is expected to play a significant role in the 2026 season, building on his performance as a rising junior. He recorded 17 total pressures and seven hits plus sacks in the previous season.
Key points
- Bryce Young is a rising junior defensive end at Notre Dame.
- He was one of the highest rated recruits in the 2024 class.
- Young recorded 17 total pressures and seven hits plus sacks in 2024.
- Leonard Moore is a standout cornerback for Notre Dame's defense.
- Injuries to teammates increased Young's playing time in 2024.
Bryce YoungLeonard MooreBoubacar TraoreTae Johnson
Notre Dame Defensive End Bryce Young Will Play A Major Role In 2026
Notre Dame's defense is loaded with star-power potential heading into the 2026 season. There's one proven star on defense and that's Unanimous All-American cornerback Leonard Moore who will be the best returning corner in the country two years in a row. There's others that are on the verge like defensive end Boubacar Traore and safety Tae Johnson who PFF has ranked as the No. 1 returning safety in the country.
Another player making a push to become a star on this loaded defensive roster in rising junior defensive end Bryce Young. Young was one of the highest rated defensive recruits in the 2024 class. The 6-6, 260-pound North Carolina native came to Notre Dame with a lot of hype, but he was relatively raw coming out of high school and needed time to develop.
In 2024, he played 374 snaps in their 16-game season. He came onto the scene against Purdue when they lost defensive in Jordan Botelho to a season ending injury. His snap volume ramped up during the Louisville game due to an injury suffered by Traore which put an early end to his season as well. In total, Young finished with 17 total pressures and seven hits plus sacks on the quarterback; 15 of his 17 pressures and six of his seven hits plus sacks on the quarterback came from the Louisville game to the end of the season.
This past year, Young's snap volume went up. He played 314 snaps this season which was 60 less than his freshman season, but the Irish played in four less games. Out of his 314 total snaps, Young played 202 pass rushing snaps. In those 202 pass rushing snaps, Young tallied 29 pressures and 11 hits plus sacks on the quarterback. He also recorded 10 run stops in 104 run snaps. His production last year was good, but there's definitely another level he can get to.
Notre Dame has one of the best returning edge-rushing duos in the country with Traore and Young. To varying degrees, we're confident in what we're going to see from Traore this upcoming season. It's likely he ends up breaking out nationally and could end up in the same conversation with players like Dylan Stewart from South Carolina, Damon Wilson II from Miami and Collin Simmons from Texas. Young, on the other hand, is more of a question mark.
Q&A
What impact will Bryce Young have on Notre Dame's defense in 2026?
Bryce Young is anticipated to be a key player for Notre Dame's defense in 2026, leveraging his experience and performance from the previous season.
How did Bryce Young perform in the 2024 season at Notre Dame?
In the 2024 season, Bryce Young played 374 snaps and recorded 17 total pressures and seven hits plus sacks, with a significant portion of his production coming in the Louisville game.
Who are the standout players on Notre Dame's defense heading into 2026?
Key players include Unanimous All-American cornerback Leonard Moore, defensive end Boubacar Traore, and safety Tae Johnson, who is ranked as the No. 1 returning safety.
What injuries affected Bryce Young's playing time in the 2024 season?
Bryce Young's playing time increased due to injuries to defensive end Jordan Botelho and Boubacar Traore, which opened opportunities for him during the season.
