Category: Defense

On defense, sophomore Cornerback Leonard Moore is still listed as questionable on the injury report, recovering from an ankle injuy. Also questionable is junior Defensive Tackle Donovan Hinisch, who only played five snaps last week, after a shoulder injury. Both are still listed as starters on the official depth chart. 

Reportedly, as against Purdue and Arkansas, if Moore is unable to play, freshman Mark Zackery IV will start in his place.  On the depth chart, Zackery is technically listed as a back-up to Christian Gray, who is healthy. Hinisch’s backup on the depth chart is Jared Dawson, a 6-1, 288-pound senior.

[Jersey Number, Name, Height, Weight, [Eligibility-]Year, unofficial 40 Times (from third-party sources; 40 times not necessarily current)]

– CB –

15 Leonard Moore 6-2 195 So. – 4.5 – Questionable
18 Chance Tucker 6-0 183 Sr.
or 21 Karson Hobbs 6-1 189 So. – 4.4

– BOUND –

8 Adon Shuler 6-0 205 So. – 4.54
28 Luke Talich 6-4 210 Jr. – 4.5
22 Ethan Long 6-3 210 Fr. – 4.6

– FIELD –

9 Tae Johnson 6-2 192 Fr.
7 Jalen Stroman 6-1 201 Sr. – 4.57
11 JaDon Blair 6-5 205 Fr. – 4.56

– CB –

6 Christian Gray 6-0 190 Jr. – 4.45
24 Mark Zackery IV 5-11 175 Fr.
20 Cree Thomas 6-1 189 Fr.

– NICKEL –

0 DeVonta Smith 5-11 195 Sr. – 4.48
14 Dallas Golden 6-0 187 Fr.
13 Ben Minich 6-0 197 So.

– WILL –

3 Jaylen Sneed 6-2 230 Jr.
4 Jaiden Ausberry 6-2 228 So.
19 Madden Faraimo 6-2 235 Fr.

– MIKE –

34 Drayk Bowen 6-2 235 Jr.
27 Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa 6-3 230 So.
19 Madden Faraimo 6-2 235 Fr.

– VYPER –

5 Boubacar Traore 6-4 250 So. – 4.68
44 Junior Tuihalamaka 6-2 255 Sr.
or 12 Jordan Botelho 6-3 260 Sr.

– DT –

47 Jason Onye 6-5 302 Sr.
97 Gabriel Rubio 6-5 321 Sr. – 4.90
42 Cole Mullins 6-5 275 Fr.

– DT –

41 Donovan Hinish 6-2 277 Jr. – Questionable
93 Jared Dawson 6-1 288 Sr.
56 Elijah Hughes 6-3 300 Jr.

– DE –

95 Bryce Young 6-7 271 So.
40 Joshua Burnham 6-4 260 Jr.
10 Loghan Thomas 6-4 220 So.

[Note: Athough it had been reported in early 2025 that the program was moving beyond a Vyper concept, they do have “Vypers” on the current depth chart. The same players are listed as DE on the roster]

[official release for offense, defense, special teams at: fightingirish.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-Depth-Chart-Game-05.pdf]

Sophomore Cornerback Leonard Moore and fifth-year defensive back (Nickel Back) DeVonta Smith are listed as questionable on the injury report, yet are still listed as starters on the depth chart.

[Note: Athough it had been reported in early 2025 that the program was moving beyond a Vyper concept, they do have “Vypers” on the current depth chart. The same players are listed as DE on the roster]

[for original PDF click here]

[Jersey Number, Name, Height, Weight, [Eligibility-]Year, unofficial 40 Times (from third-party sources; 40 times not necessarily current)]

– CB –

15 Leonard Moore 6-2 195 So. – 4.5
14 Dallas Golden 6-0 187 Fr.
18 Chance Tucker 6-0 183 Sr

– BOUND –

8 Adon Shuler 6-0 205 So. – 4.54
28 Luke Talich 6-4 210 Jr. – 4.5
22 Ethan Long 6-3 210 Fr. – 4.6

– FIELD –

7 Jalen Stroman 6-1 201 Sr. – 4.57
9 Tae Johnson 6-2 192 Fr.
22 Ethan Long 6-3 210 Fr. – 4.6

– CB –

6 Christian Gray 6-0 190 Jr. – 4.45
24 Mark Zackery IV 5-11 175 Fr.
20 Cree Thomas 6-1 189 Fr.

– NICKEL –

0 DeVonta Smith 5-11 195 Sr. – 4.48
21 Karson Hobbs 6-1 189 So.
13 Ben Minich 6-0 197 So.

– WILL –

3 Jaylen Sneed 6-2 230 Jr.
4 Jaiden Ausberry 6-2 228 So.
19 Madden Faraimo 6-2 235 Fr.

– MIKE –

34 Drayk Bowen 6-2 235 Jr.
27 Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa 6-3 230 So.
19 Madden Faraimo 6-2 235 Fr.

– VYPER –

5 Boubacar Traore 6-4 250 So. – 4.68
44 Junior Tuihalamaka 6-2 255 Sr.
or 12 Jordan Botelho 6-3 260 Sr.

– DT –

47 Jason Onye 6-5 302 Sr.
97 Gabriel Rubio 6-5 321 Sr. – 4.90
42 Cole Mullins 6-5 275 Fr.

– DT –

41 Donovan Hinish 6-2 277 Jr.
93 Jared Dawson 6-1 288 Sr.
56 Elijah Hughes 6-3 300 Jr.

– DE –

95 Bryce Young 6-7 271 So.
40 Joshua Burnham 6-4 260 Jr.
10 Loghan Thomas 6-4 220 So.

[official release for offense, defense, special teams at: [PDF] fightingirish.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/2025-Depth-Chart-Game-03.pdf