Jaylen Sneed Is Set For An Expanded Role In The Notre Dame Defense

With a year of experience under his belt talented linebacker Jaylen Sneed is poised to see a lot more action in 2023

After a quiet freshman season, former five-star Jaylen Sneed had a productive spring that moved him into position to see more time this season. Defensive coordinator Al Golden noted that Sneed was "dinged up" in the second practice, but he was back to action on Friday. Golden was more than happy to see Sneed back in action at Friday’s practice.

"It was good to get Sneed back out there today, man, because I was like, 'Whoa, okay, now he’s where he was in the spring',” Golden noted. "(Sneed and Nolan Ziegler) are right there. Again, to us, it’s not like they’re starters. It’s who’s playing? Who’s going in the game? Those guys are going in the game.

"I talk to you guys all the time about vertical and horizontal depth,” Golden continued. "Vertical depth, yeah, we want to have two deep. But we also need horizontal depth. We need defensive linemen that can play a 3-technique or an end. We need linebackers that can play different spots.”

Sneed fits into Golden’s horizontal design. Golden says he is the Rover in the base defense, the Will in the 4-2 nickel package and he can rush the passer on the edge on third down.

"That’s really what he does,” Golden said of Sneed. "We’re trying to get him going in those things, and really at the end of the year that’s what he did for us. He was awesome.”

Sneed played in Notre Dame’s final four games of last season. He made his long- awaited Fighting Irish debut against Navy and played against Boston College, Southern Cal and South Carolina as well to close his freshman season. Golden sees a bounty of potential for the sophomore this season.

“He’s got good get-off,” Golden expanded. “He’s got length. And he’s got excellent flexibility at the top of the movement. If he is engaged, he can dip and bend. He can counter back inside. He’s in the low 220s now, I think 222. He’s making a lot of progress. Maybe he’ll be (225) here at some point, two months from now. How dynamic would that be if we had that guy in our defense that can rush the passer on the first third down but on the next third down we’re in a different look and he’s moving around and we can blitz. That’s our goals for him because he is talented. I’m excited talking about him because of the way he practiced today.”

Be sure to check out the Irish Breakdown message board, the Champions Lounge

Irish Breakdown Content

2023 Scholarship Chart
2023 Football Schedule

Notre Dame 2024 Scholarship Offers

2024 Commit Rankings - Offense
2024 Commit Rankings - Defense

2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Offense
2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense

———————

Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more.

BECOME A MEMBER

Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time!

Join the Irish Breakdown community!
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes
Follow me on Twitter: @SeanStires
Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook

Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter