Notre Dame defensive end Bryce Young has been named as the program’s “sleeper” player ahead of the 2025 college football season as the Fighting Irish aim to become national champions for the first time in almost 40 years.

As Notre Dame gears up for the 2025 college football season, the Fighting Irish are once again positioned to make a serious run at a national championship. After coming up just short in previous seasons, the program is loaded with talent across the board, and expectations are sky-high for head coach Marcus Freeman and his squad. While all eyes are on some of the more prominent names on the roster, one player who has quietly garnered attention in the lead-up to the season is defensive end Bryce Young. Though not yet a household name, Young has been labeled as Notre Dame’s “sleeper” player for the 2025 season, and his potential could play a key role in the Fighting Irish’s pursuit of their first national title in nearly four decades.

Bryce Young’s rise to prominence has been anything but conventional. A player who flew somewhat under the radar during his high school recruitment, Young arrived at Notre Dame with solid but not overwhelming expectations. As a highly recruited defensive end coming out of high school, he was known for his quickness, strength, and ability to disrupt the pocket, but his raw talent often went unnoticed when compared to some of the more high-profile recruits. However, in the years since joining the Fighting Irish, Young has quietly developed into one of the most promising defensive prospects in college football.

In his first two seasons at Notre Dame, Young showed glimpses of what made him such a tantalizing prospect. As a freshman, he was primarily used as a situational pass rusher, seeing limited action in a defensive line rotation that included some established stars. Despite his limited opportunities, Young made the most of them, registering a handful of tackles for loss and pressuring opposing quarterbacks on multiple occasions. By his sophomore year, Young had firmly established himself as a key contributor on the defensive line, becoming a full-time starter and contributing to an Irish defense that ranked among the best in the country.

What sets Bryce Young apart from other defensive ends is his rare combination of size, speed, and technique. Standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 265 pounds, Young possesses an ideal frame for a defensive lineman. His physicality allows him to shed blockers and disrupt offensive schemes with ease, but it is his speed and agility that make him such a dangerous weapon. Young has the ability to get off the line of scrimmage in a flash, quickly closing the gap between himself and opposing quarterbacks. His bend around the edge is exceptional, allowing him to get to the quarterback even when blocked by powerful offensive tackles.

Despite his impressive physical tools, Bryce Young’s development as a player has been a direct result of his commitment to improving his technique. Under the tutelage of Notre Dame’s defensive line coach, he has refined his pass-rushing moves, becoming more versatile and unpredictable in his approach. While he originally relied on sheer strength and speed to beat his blockers, Young has become more nuanced in his ability to set up offensive linemen with fakes and counter-moves. This growth in his technique has elevated his game to a level where he can now impact a game in a variety of ways, whether it’s through generating pressure on the quarterback, stopping the run, or collapsing the pocket from the inside.

Heading into the 2025 season, Young’s role on the Notre Dame defense is expected to increase significantly. With the loss of several key players to the NFL draft, including standout defensive end Isaiah Foskey, the Fighting Irish will need new faces to step up and fill the void. Young, now entering his junior year, is in prime position to be the leader of the defensive line and one of the key playmakers on the team. He has the potential to be a difference-maker for Notre Dame, capable of changing the course of a game with a timely sack or forced fumble.

Notre Dame’s defense has traditionally been one of the cornerstones of the program, and in 2025, the Fighting Irish are poised to return to their roots of strong defensive play. The addition of Young as a centerpiece of the defensive line could be the missing piece that allows the Irish to return to national prominence. With a defense that can consistently apply pressure to opposing quarterbacks and shut down the run game, Notre Dame will have the ability to compete with the elite programs in college football. Young’s ability to be a disruptor on every play will make him a focal point of opposing offenses, forcing teams to account for him on every snap.

One of the most intriguing aspects of Young’s potential impact in 2025 is the role he will play in Notre Dame’s pass-rush schemes. Under Freeman’s leadership, the Fighting Irish defense has become more aggressive, emphasizing pressure on the quarterback and creating turnovers. Young’s ability to rush the passer from multiple angles gives the coaching staff the flexibility to move him around the defensive line, keeping offensive linemen off balance. Whether he lines up as a traditional defensive end, a stand-up pass rusher, or even slides inside on passing downs, Young’s versatility is a major asset for the Fighting Irish.

The 2025 season will be pivotal for Young as he looks to elevate his game and make a name for himself as one of the top defensive linemen in the country. While he has flown under the radar in the past, his performance in the coming season has the potential to propel him into national recognition. Notre Dame’s defense is expected to be one of the most formidable in the country, and with Young leading the charge on the defensive line, the Fighting Irish will be a force to be reckoned with in the College Football Playoff race.

Young’s commitment to developing his game both physically and mentally is what has impressed his coaches and teammates the most. He has put in the work during the offseason to refine his skills and take his game to the next level. His work ethic and attention to detail have made him a leader in the locker room and a mentor to the younger players on the roster. With his combination of talent, leadership, and determination, Young has the tools to become one of the top defensive players in college football.

As Notre Dame looks to make a run at its first national championship since 1988, Bryce Young’s emergence as a key player on the defensive line will be critical to the team’s success. The Fighting Irish have the talent and depth to compete with the best teams in the country, but it will be players like Young who can make the difference when the stakes are at their highest. Young’s ability to disrupt opposing offenses, generate pressure on the quarterback, and be a constant presence in the backfield will give Notre Dame the edge they need to make a deep run in the College Football Playoff.

The expectations for Notre Dame heading into the 2025 season are high, but the team has the talent and leadership to back up those expectations. As the Fighting Irish continue to build momentum and prepare for the upcoming season, all eyes will be on Bryce Young to see if he can take that next step and fulfill his potential as one of the nation’s top defensive players. With his combination of skill, athleticism, and work ethic, Young has all the tools necessary to be a game-changer for Notre Dame and a key contributor to their national title aspirations.

In the world of college football, there are always players who emerge as unexpected stars, and for Notre Dame, Bryce Young has all the makings of that breakout player. His rise from a lesser-known recruit to a key figure on the Fighting Irish defense is a testament to his dedication and the strong development program at Notre Dame. As the 2025 season approaches, Young will be one of the most intriguing storylines for Fighting Irish fans, and his performance could be the difference between another strong season and a national championship run.

If Young can live up to his potential and continue to develop as both a pass rusher and a defensive leader, there’s no reason why he can’t become one of the most dominant defensive players in college football in 2025. Notre Dame’s pursuit of a national title may ultimately come down to the play of players like Bryce Young, who can change the trajectory of a game with one explosive play. As the Fighting Irish aim for their first national championship in nearly 40 years, it’s players like Young who will determine whether they can finally break through and return to the top of college football.