Notre Dame Big Board: 2023 Defensive Commits

Breaking down and ranking the Notre Dame defensive commits on the board for the 2023 class

Notre Dame still needs to continue upgrading its talent on defense, and after a strong 2022 haul on that side of the ball the Irish staff is looking to land an even better group.

Notre Dame is off to a great start in the class. On this page you'll find my analysis, grade and ranking for each Notre Dame commit on defense. 

NOTRE DAME COMMITS - DEFENSE (11)

1. LB Drayk Bowen - 6-2, 215, Merrillville (Ind.) Andrean
2. S Peyton Bowen - 6-1, 185, Denton (Texas) Guyer
3. LB Jaiden Ausberry - 6-1 ,215, Baton Rouge (La.) University Lab
4. CB Micah Bell - 5-11, 165, Houston (Texas) The Kinkaid School
5. DE Brenan Vernon - 6-5, 250, Mentor (Ohio) High School
6. CB Christian Gray - 6-1, 175, St. Louis (Mo.) DeSmet Jesuit
7. DL Boubacar Traore - 6-4, 255, West Roxbury (Mass.) Catholic Memorial
8. S Adon Shuler - 6-1, 190, Irvington (N.J.) High School
9. DT Devan Houston - 6-5, 275, Hagerstown (Md.) St. James 
10. LB Preston Zinter - 6-3, 215, Lawrence (Mass.) Central Catholic
11. S Ben Minich - 6-0, 185, Cincinnati (Ohio) Lakota West

As more players commit they will be added to this page.

Analysis of each 2023 defensive commit:

1. DRAYK BOWEN, LINEBACKER

Height/Weight: 6-2, 215

IB Grade: 4.5 (Top 50 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0

Junior Highlights

Marcus Freeman wants length, athleticism and power at linebacker and that's exactly what Bowen brings to the game. His size is above average, but his athleticism and power are elite. Bowen is an explosive athlete that gets downhill in a hurry and he has the range to play to the sideline. When he commits to attack the ball he covers a lot of ground in a hurry, and when he arrives at the football he arrives with power.

Adding more physicality is a must for the Notre Dame defense, which I wrote about in my most recent Midweek Musings, and Bowen adds plenty of that. He's not a Mike linebacker right now, but I could certainly see him becoming that kind of player down the road. He's got the size potential, he has the first-step explosiveness, he closes on the ball extremely well and his natural hand strength and power will allow him to be extremely good at block destruction once his technique improves.

His agility and balance are impressive physical traits, and when his footwork gets better his ability to scrape, flow and explode to the ball should allow him to make a lot of plays in the run game. Bowen has to improve his timing as a blitzer, but he explodes downhill, easily dismisses high school blockers and closes on the football extremely well. In coverage he has the athleticism to thrive but his footwork and ability to look up routes will need to be improved.

Bowen is a bit on the raw side, thriving on God-given ability and effort. He's still a young player that hasn't yet finished his junior season. He'll continue to improve from a fundamental standpoint, and as that happens and he gets more and more experience his game will truly take off. He is a legit five-star upside player that possesses the kind of athleticism and natural power you simply cannot teach. Once he improves in the areas that can be taught he'll have a chance to be a special linebacker for the Irish.

2. PEYTON BOWEN, SAFETY

Height/Weight: 6-1, 185

IB Grade: 4.5 (Top 50 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0

Junior Highlights

The exciting thing about Bowen is he's just scratching the surface of what kind of player he can be. He's a two-way player in high school and he's also a special teams standpoint. When he gets to college and focuses on one side of the ball his game should explode.

Bowen is listed at 6-1 and he is rangy, which suits him as both a deep middle defender and also aids him when he attacks the alleys. Bowen explodes downhill and he covers a lot of ground in a hurry. His ability to play centerfield and the alleys is a must for a safety at Notre Dame, who often uses its back end defenders in an interchangeable manner.

Bowen shows impressive long speed, a must for a safety. You can especially see this explosiveness when he's on offense as a vertical threat. Eventually you'll see it even more on defense, but when his footwork is right you can see Bowen change direction with easy and explode to the route or the ball.

The Guyer standout shows an outstanding feel for the game. He shows good route recognition, takes good angles to the football and he plays the ball extremely well. Bowen is also a willing and able tackler. Right now his footwork and drop technique are works in progress. When his technique is right his transitions - both vertically and downhill - are tremendous. When his technique isn't right he looks tight when he turns. Once his technique becomes more consistently good his game is going to explode.

3. JAIDEN AUSBERRY, LINEBACKER

Height/Weight: 6-1, 215

IB Grade: 4.5 (Top 50 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0

Junior Highlights

The first thing that jumps out on film with Ausberry is his outstanding football intelligence. Ausberry is extremely smart, making quick decisions and he takes great angles to the football. His anticipation is as good as any linebacker in the country.

Ausberry is a smooth and athletic young linebacker. His foot quickness and change of direction are outstanding, which is ideal for a second level defender. His ability to plant and then explode downhill is exactly what you want from a top linebacker.

At 6-1 and 215 pounds he doesn't have great size, and Ausberry will need to fill out and get stronger, but he does possess good natural strength, and he arrives at the ball with some force. After a year in the weight room at Notre Dame he'll likely see a jump in power and explosiveness.

Ausberry has an excellent feel for the game, which allows him to make a lot of plays on the ball. His combination of feel, speed and proper angles allows him to quickly get to the football, which helped him rack up 94 tackles and 12 tackles for loss as a junior. The University Lab standout doesn't spend a ton of time in coverage, but when he does he's effective. His range in zone looks is outstanding and he has the combination of feel, fluidity and speed to handle playing in man coverage against tight ends, backs and even slots on wheel routes.

4. MICAH BELL, CORNERBACK

Height/Weight: 5-11, 165

IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0

Junior Highlights

There is no question that Bell's best asset is his speed. He has truly game changing speed at the prep level, posting a best 100-meter dash time of 10.41 and a best 200-meter dash time of 20.89. That's truly elite speed, and the best part is Bell translates that speed onto the field.

You can see his speed show up at cornerback, running back and the return game. Bell has easy speed, which means he's not a high effort mover in order to play fast. He's a smooth runner that can accelerate immediately, shows a great second gear and as a defender he has special closing speed.

Bell is more of a one-cut athlete but also shows the desired suddenness as an athlete. On defense, Bell shows the ability to easily flip his hips at times, so you know he can do it, but there are some technical aspects that need to be cleaned up.

That is really the area where Bell must improve the most. Right now, on defense, he's more of an elite athlete that is still learning the position, but the tools are all there. At 5-11 and 165 pounds with good arm length he has the radius to thrive at cornerback. He'll need to continue filling out and add strength, but it's the technical aspects where his game needs the most work.

The good news for Bell and Notre Dame is that he has the physical tools to be a tremendous player. Elite speed, elite athlete, competitiveness, versatility and intelligence. The coaching part can and will come, but he has tools you simply cannot teach and develop.

5. BRENAN VERNON, DEFENSIVE END

Height/Weight: 6-5, 250

IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 100 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5

Junior Highlights

At 6-5 and 250 pounds, Vernon already has a thick, powerful frame that should be able to hold at least another 15-20 pounds, but there is also plenty of room for him to get stronger, thicker and more powerful without necessarily jumping his height to the max.

Vernon plays against outstanding competition and shows the ability to play big boy ball. He has impressive natural power and strong feel for the game. Vernon has heavy hands and plays with good pad level. Even as a young player he can toss linemen and his block destruction is advanced for his age. As his technique improves he projects to develop into an elite run defender.

The Mentor star is an unorthodox athlete, moving with an interesting gait and a bit of a herky-jerky style. He does show an impressive initial burst, closing speed and his motor is strong. Do not let his awkward movement style be mistaken for a lack of athleticism. As a prep player and at summer camps Vernon showed the ability to jump off the ball and get to the edge against top tackles.

He'll need to continue improving his pass rush arsenal and he'll need to improve his pad level, but Vernon has the combination of length, power and athleticism to develop into a top-notch power rusher.

For Notre Dame his game reminds me quite a bit of former Irish standout Khalid Kareem. Like Kareem, Vernon isn't an explosive athlete and doesn't flash elite athleticism, but his power, athleticism and football instincts as a package deal are outstanding. Like Kareem, Vernon projects to be a high impact run defender as a big end in the Irish defense, but Vernon shows a bit more pass rush potential than Kareem did at the same age.

6. CHRISTIAN GRAY, CORNERBACK

Height/Weight: 6-1, 175

IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5

Junior Highlights

The first thing that stood out to me when breaking down Gray was his length. He's listed between 6-0 and 6-1, but even more importantly he has very long arms. That length is something teams covet at cornerback, and Gray knows how to use that to his advantage.

Gray is a smooth and fluid athlete with exceptional balance. Despite having long legs, Gray is able to change direction with ease, possessing top-notch foot quickness and change of direction ability. His transitions are clean, but Gray does need to work on accelerating a bit quicker once he turns to run.

This is one of the more fundamentally sound cornerbacks in the class. His footwork is efficient, he knows how to use his hands and his route recognition is top notch. Gray thrives in both man and zone coverage. His length and athleticism are ideal fits for press coverage, which makes him a strong fit in the boundary position. He's also a high football IQ player that does a great job reading quarterbacks and his route recognition is excellent.

Gray does an excellent job breaking on routes and beating receivers to the point of attack. His combination of length, athleticism and instincts allow Gray to get his hands on a lot of passes. Gray has been timed at camps with 4.42 speed, but that doesn't always show on film. If he can show that more consistently his game will explode and he'll tap into his full potential.

7. BOUBACAR TRAORE, DEFENSIVE LINE

Height/Weight: 6-4, 255

IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 5.0

Junior Highlights

Right now Traore is a defensive end, and he could certainly stay on the edge in the Notre Dame defense. His game right now fits the Big End position, but Traore is listed at 6-4 and 255 pounds, and he has a thick, impressive frame. With his thick lower half and broad shoulders I fully expect him to keep adding good weight and strength, which would lend to him potentially growing into an interior player where he could be quite disruptive.

Notre Dame loves length up front and Traore has very long arms and broad shoulders. He doesn't use his hands as well as you want yet and he uses his athleticism and power to dominate at the moment. As he continues to learn how to use that length at the point of attack his ability to dominate the run projects quite well to the next level. He has a thick lower half that is also powerful. He shows a strong punch and the potential to be a top notch block destructor once his technique improves.

Athletically, Traore shows an impressive burst off the edge and he has good lateral movement for such a big athlete. He comes off the line well, shows impressive agility when working into gaps and he closes on the ball well. His closing speed stands out and you can really see his athleticism shine when he plays tight end. As his overall technique improves he has the potential to be a dominant player.

Right now Traore is a player that doesn't quite have the floor of other linemen in the class, but he has legit five-star upside. His potential is why he ranks as a Top 100 player right now, and as his game improves you'll see him become one of the best linemen in the class. This is the kind of young player that a coach like Al Washington - who stress fundamentals - absolutely loves. The tools are there, and with more coaching he could be a really, really good football player.

8. ADON SHULER, SAFETY

Height/Weight: 6-0, 190

IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5

Junior Highlights

With Shuler, the first thing that stood out to me on film is how mature his game is from a technical and playmaking standpoint. He's an assignment correct, instinctive and high IQ safety that already shows an advanced feel for the game. Shuler comes down hill aggressively and plays with very good angles in both the run game and pass game. His feel for beating receivers to the spot is quite nuanced for such a young player, and he takes very good run game angles from depth, which makes him an impact defender against the run.

Shuler has the kind of frame you want at safety. He's at least 6-0, he has some length to him and he's got an athletic build. He already has good listed size but he'll continue to fill out and add even more strength. Athletically, Shuler is very light on his feet and packs a punch when he arrives at the ball. His agility and balance grade out very high, and he shows the ability to change direction with ease.

I questioned his speed and explosiveness as a sophomore, but as a junior he showed a much-needed jump in both areas. His long speed improved, his ability to open and run got better and his ability to plant and drive downhill was impressive. This made him a far more effective player as a junior and caused his grade to jump up quite a bit.

As a junior, Shuler has used his jump in burst and strength to be a highly effective run defender, but his improved speed has made him far more impactful in the pass game. Combined with his intelligence, that improvement makes Shuler a defender capable of playing more man coverage, but it's his improved range on that back end that stood out the most.

9. DEVAN HOUSTAN, DEFENSIVE TACKLE

Height/Weight: 6-5, 275

IB Grade: 4.0 (Top 150 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 

Junior Highlights

Houstan fits into both interior defensive line positions in the Notre Dame defense. He has the athletic talents to play three-technique, but it's the nose guard position that Houstan fits best. Notre Dame wants a nose guard that can not only hold up and eat up space, but they want one that can also penetrate and be disruptive, and that is what Houstan can do.

Houstan is tall and has above-average length for an edge player, which is where he mostly plays in high school, but his length projects even better inside. At times he'll lift up at the snap, but more often than not he keeps his pads low and flies off the ball. Houstan has powerful and quick hands, and his block destruction potential is outstanding. He has a good feel for how to use his hands already, and Houstan shows a good array of pass rush moves both inside and outside.

You can see Houstan's hand quickness and power on defense, but it really flashes when he's playing offensive line. On that side of the ball he uses his hands to strike and his punch is excellent. Houstan is a physical defender that plays with a mean streak. With some body reshaping and time in a college weight room he projects to be a big, thick, powerful interior player that can shut down the run.

Athletically, Houstan shows an impressive burst off the line, especially when he keeps his pads down. He's a nimble athlete for his size, which allows him to make double moves with relative ease. This allows him to quickly shoot gaps and execute counter moves. When this is combined with his quick hands and natural power it makes Houstan a highly disruptive player up the middle, evidenced by his 15.5 tackles for loss and 7.5 sacks in just eight games last season.

Right now he's an even better pass rusher than a run defender, but with continued enhancement from a technical and consistency standpoint I see Houstan developing into an impact run defender at the next level, one of making plays in the backfield. 

10. ARMEL MUKAM, DEFENSIVE END

Height/Weight: 6-4, 250

IB Grade: 3.5 (Top 400 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.5

Senior Highlights

Mukam is an incredibly intriguing player. He didn't put pads on until his sophomore season in Canada, and they barely had a season. His first full season of football wasn't until 2021 when he transferred to Woodberry Forest, and he only played six games. So when talking about Mukam it's all about upside, but he's the kind of player that Notre Dame has had great success with in recent seasons .... lower floor but very high ceiling.

A big end target in the Irish defense, Mukam has a thick frame that should allow him to get to at least 270 pounds in relatively short order. He grew up as a hockey player, but now that he's transitioning to football full time you'll see his time in the weight room result in a physical transformation that will not only add weight room strength but also really good mass.

Mukam has exceptional length, checking in with a confirmed 80+ inch wingspan. The Montreal native has strong hands and impressive natural power. Despite being new to the sport he shows an impressive feel for the game. When he uses his hands he is hard to block thanks to his power/length combination. He'll need to learn a lot about playing with better pad level and using his hands to keep blockers off his body, and to get off blocks.

I was surprised by his flashes of quickness. When he keeps pads low he shows a really impressive vertical burst off the line. At times he gets high off the line and it tightens him up a bit, but you can see above average lateral quickness on film. Where I was blown away with his agility was from some summer workout film, where Mukam showed strong foot quickness and the kind of change of direction you want from a top-level athlete at his size.

This is a projection player. He's going to need time. Consider him a thicker, more advanced version of Ogundeji, which is an impressive comparison.

11. BEN MINICH, SAFETY

Height/Weight: 6-0, 185

IB Grade: 3.5 (Top 400 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.0

Junior Highlights

Minich isn't the highly ranked player that Bowen and Shuler are, but he's a talented player that has some tools, and he has a chance to be at least a good depth and special teams players, but if he reaches he peak he has starting potential.

Playing safety for Lakota West, Minich is a versatile piece on the backend who is used to working from depth, in short zone and a slot defender. The best aspects of his game is his short area quickness and change of direction. That shows up with Munich’s ability to close quickly on underneath routes and do nice work in man to man coverage.

He is also a tenacious player who shows up in the run game, with adequate ability to work in pursuit. His ball skills are also plus, making sense with his impact on the offensive side of the football. The biggest questions for Minich are going to be his range in deep zone coverage and his overall size profile. Minich range is a whole lot better working towards the line of scrimmage than opening deep in coverage. While he has no issue throwing around his weight, Minich also doesn’t boast much hit power right now. He will have to fill out his frame to become an asset as a run defender and alley runner.

Minich’s impact on special teams is also a huge bonus. He makes a ton of plays in coverage units, quickly accelerating down field and showing sure tackling on returners. Overall, he boasts a solid all around athletic profile with some nice proactiveness with his ability to diagnose quickly.

12. PRESTON ZINTER, LINEBACKER

Height/Weight: 6-3, 215

IB Grade: 3.5 (Top 400 caliber prospect)
Upside Grade: 4.0

Junior Highlights

Based on junior film there are some questions about Zinter's size and length, but a growth spurt seems to have happened with him. He showed up to Notre Dame taller and longer than he looked on film, which clearly changed the projection for him.

What Zinter did show on film was impressive athleticism. He plays wide receiver, tight end and outside linebacker/edge for Central Catholic. On offense there are a number of plays where Zinter is allowed to turn loose and really run, and you can see his impressive long speed.

He shows good short-area quickness, top-notch balance and the lateral movement skills needed to play off-ball linebacker. His body control as a tight end should translate quite well to being an inside linebacker. We actually don't see much of him playing off ball linebacker, so there is a lot of projection with his game, but the talent and tools are clearly there.

Playing on the edge puts Zinter in a lot of situations where he has to use his hands, and his block destruction is impressive. He shows the length and hand strength needed to keep blockers off his body and then shed them when he wants to get to the football. He'll need work when it comes to the finer points of playing inside linebacker due to the fact he doesn't currently play that position. Notre Dame clearly sees that he possesses all the physical traits needed to make that transition, which is why the push was made to add Zinter to the class.

UPSIDE RANKING

Here is how I rank each player from an upside standpoint:

1. Peyton Bowen, S - 5.0
2. Micah Bell, CB - 5.0
3. Boubacar Traore, DE - 5.0
4. Drayk Bowen, LB - 5.0
5. Jaiden Ausberry, LB - 5.0
6. Brenan Vernon, DE - 4.5
7. Christian Gray, CB - 4.5
8. Devan Houstan, DE - 4.5
9. Adon Shuler, S - 4.5
10. Preston Zinter, LB - 4.5
11. Ben Minich, S - 4.0

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Notre Dame 2022 Roster
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Notre Dame 2023 Class Big Board
Notre Dame 2023 Commits Board - Offense
Notre Dame 2023 Commits Board - Defense

Notre Dame 2023 Scholarship Offers
Notre Dame 2024 Scholarship Offers

Ranking The 2022 Signees - Offense
Ranking The 2022 Signees - Defense

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