Bodie Kahoun Provides So Much Upside For Notre Dame

Patrick Henry defensive coordinator Lee Johnson talks in depth about Notre Dame signee Bodie Kahoun

After putting together one of the most absurd senior campaigns you will ever see, 2024 Roanoke (Va.) Patrick Henry linebacker Bodie Kahoun made his commitment official on Wednesday when he signed with Notre Dame. The 6-3, 215-pound defender will be taking his talents to South Bend this summer, hoping to build off of the 203-tackle, 27-tackle for loss, 9-sack breakout he put together in 2023.

According to Lee Johnson, the defensive coordinator for Patrick Henry, Kahoun is not defined by numbers. Although, putting up those type of numbers don’t hurt.

"You put it in perspective, when you look at his numbers, I mean, it was incredible,” said Johnson. "Of course, he's a guy. He plays on special teams, it's hard to get him off the field, any kind of defensive type play, whether it's covering a kickoff punt, whatever.

"But the thing that stands out with Bodie is sometimes. There were nights that you'd go through a game and you'd think he was pretty solid,” Johnson continued. “But then you get back on the film review, and he's all over the place. He just does it – he did it.”

For people who first see Kahoun’s stats, there is an initial impulse to think they may be a little inflated. In fact, it turns out that his numbers may have even been deflated a little.

"There were times I had to go back and redo stats,” he said. "I'm like, there's no way, and there was a way and I'll be honest with you guys, I probably shorted him a couple just because it was like there's no way. But he's just that kind of guy. He's like that in the hallway, he's like that when he comes to the gym and he's got a motor man, no doubt.”

Kahoun’s play in 2023 was stellar. Based on how hard the Virginia native works, however, it's no surprise. When talent meets hard work, you get Bodie Kahoun.

"I won't say quietly, but his performance was just very workmanlike,” Johnson explained. "It’s all – it's his motor. I'm going to tell you guys, he practices like that. That's just him. This is a guy that comes to school every day, gets a 4.2 GPA, gets up at 5 AM to do his workouts and that's his day. That’s just the way he goes.”

It has been an incredibly interesting journey for Kahoun, who was once committed to Ohio State for lacrosse. He was also a safety not too long ago, only starting five games at linebacker on the second level in 2022. Once Kahoun found a home, the rest was history. The Patrick Henry staff knew it was only a matter of time at a very young age.

"He was just playing, and having fun,” Johnson said. "The game to him is just being on the field and he doesn't care whether it's practice or game. That's just Bodie being Bodie, and he's been like that. His first couple of years, he was playing safety for us. Then I got smart and moved him up with the linebackers junior year.

"From there, he’s taken off,” Johnson added. "He was a guy that in eighth grade in our middle school program, we would look at him and go, 'You know, if this guy doesn't go major Division 1, nobody will,' because he's been like that his whole career.”

Now Kahoun is ready for the next chapter, officially dawning the blue and gold. Coach Johnson made his options on Bodie very well known. The Notre Dame team will be better just because he’s there.

"I think Notre Dame is getting a guy that the Notre Dame community and fan base is going to love Bodie because that's him,” he explained. "He's a fun guy. He’s a little bit of a jokester but he has fun while he's conducting business.

"When Bodie speaks, everybody on the field listens and he just commands that,” he added. “So I would say the thing we're going to miss is just his presence, his presence on the field, because it gives everybody else confidence.”

That presence will be a welcomed addition to a very talented linebacker room for the Irish. The journey begins this summer for Kahoun, one of the best stories in the 2024 recruiting class. 

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