All the way in which again: Why Notre Dame sees Jason Onye as greater than a comeback story

[ad_1] Quickly after Chris Ash took the defensive coordinator job at Notre Dame, he met with Jason Onye.

That was in early February. Onye had been away from the crew for private causes since early October. The general public didn't — and nonetheless doesn't — know the specifics of Onye’s absence, so naturally, Ash didn’t both. However after they met one-on-one, the embattled defensive sort out advised him all the things.

“Straight away, I used to be actually impressed that he was prepared to open up and inform me what he’s gone by means of to get again to the place he’s at proper now,” Ash stated.

On the time, it was unsure whether or not Onye would ever placed on a blue-and-gold uniform ever once more. The Irish acquired two defensive tackles within the switch portal, indicating they had been getting ready for all times with out him.

Almost seven month later, we all know that Onye will play for Notre Dame when the Irish go to Miami on Aug. 31. Not solely that, however the redshirt senior had been operating with the first-team protection at three-technique defensive sort out when reporters most lately attended fall camp observe.

Onye is an incredible comeback story, to be clear. However in his ultimate season in South Bend, he has an opportunity to be rather more than that.

“He’s had nearly as good of a camp as I’ve seen in my 4 years,” Irish head coach Marcus Freeman stated. “He’s only a reminder of improvement. Not all people’s going to come back in right here and be an All-American as a freshman. Should you consider in them and work with them, they will turn into one thing actually good.”

‘A formidable transformation’ Overlook all the things that’s occurred off the sphere, and Onye’s ascent to a starting-caliber defensive sort out remains to be spectacular.

He’s all the time proven flashes of greatness, notably as a go rusher. In his ultimate three video games of 2024, he totaled 10 quarterback pressures. Coaches continually lauded the strides he made. And but, when the video games began, consistency would grow to be a problem. Too usually, Onye could be within the mistaken place or discover himself washed out of his hole in opposition to the run.

When spring observe started although, one thing modified.

“He was a very totally different child,” Ash stated. “He confirmed up with a constructive perspective, actually simply prepared to work each single day. He’s prepared to be coached each single day. He takes teaching and applies it to the following sequence or the following day, at any time when he’s getting it. He simply reveals up with a aggressive spirit, attempting to be the very best that he might be.”

Bodily, Onye’s higher physique was noticeably bigger (in a great way). The 6-foot-5 defensive sort out from North Windfall, R.I. crossed the 300-pound threshold for the primary time in his profession. However extra vital, Ash defined, he began taking part in with extra violence than ever.

“He’s doing an incredible job together with his palms and getting nice knock-back there within the run recreation,” Ash stated. “He’s understanding find out how to rush the passer together with his skill, and I simply love that.

“The place he was at once I first received right here to the place he’s at at present is de facto a powerful transformation.”

Whether or not Onye or fellow redshirt senior Gabriel Rubio will get the beginning nod at three-technique, each veterans will rotate closely at Miami. Alongside redshirt junior Donovan Hinish and sixth-year Louisville switch Jared Dawson at nostril sort out, Notre Dame feels it could possibly go two-deep at each spots on the inside line of defense with out a lot drop-off.

One factor is evident: Onye’s journey from the place he was in October 2024 to the place he's now could be unbelievable.

“To point out this group and this workers and this college surrounded him with sources to assist him and to see how he’s taking part in now, I do know he’s going to do nice issues for us in soccer,” Freeman stated. “However the story shouldn’t be that; what the story ought to be is how he overcame adversity and has developed in his 4 years right here.”

Freeman added that he expects Onye to do a “actually good job” for Notre Dame this 12 months. Given his bodily upside, that’s nice information for the Irish.