'22 MI OLB Joshua Burnham (Notre Dame Signee)
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IrishInOntario
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"Starting caliber", I completely agree, but in terms of the guys that are actually slotted in to start... Bryce Young, Boubacar Traore and with any luck, Jason Onye may all return. Which means that thry need 1-2 starters, rather than 3-4.
In terms of starting caliber players, I think they need 1 heavy rotation DE to fill the void left by Burnham, 1 starting DT and 1 heavy rotation DT / NG.
3 DL is still my target. 2 interior and 1 on the edge.
OhioIrish
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You’re probably right. Honestly, I’d give him the starting role and cash, at least in camp. Young is a great prospect, but he has not earned the starting role. I thought Burnh was clearly the more impactful player by the end of the year. Idk, this just feels like a mistake by Freeman & Co.
allenm5333
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Now, let’s say they give him the starting position. Then it clicks for Young and he becomes a DUDE. How can MF talk about competition but have Burnham locked in as a starter?
OhioIrish
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He wouldn’t be locked in, just bumped up because he’s earned it. If Young earns it back, then switch again. I’m not a defensive coordinator, but there are plenty of snaps to go around if you get creative.
BoredIrish
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I think the loss of Junior T coupled with Burnham is going to be very hard to compensate for.
IrishInOntario
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Given that Schrauth and Wagner opted for the NFL, Burnham marks the first player in this cycle that we've lost to transfer that has legitimately saying "the roster just took a significant hit". Not just because of his talent, but because of ND's lack of ready-to-contribute depth at the DE position and because of the likely cost to find a player of similar quality in the Portal.
In the micro view, Burnham is a considerable loss. In the macro view, however, if we only lose 1 or 2 guys important pieces to the transfer level in each cycle and can bring in 6-7 key pieces in return, we've done pretty well.
My projection for the 2026 defensive 2-deep now looks something like this (obviously fluid)...
DE: Bryce Young
2. Portal Addition
NG: Justin Onye or Portal Addition
2. Armel Mukam
DT: Portal Addition
2. Elijah Hughes or Cole Mullins
DE: Boubacar Traore
2. Logan Thomas or Rodney Dunham
Mike: Drayk Bowen
2. Madden Faraimo
Will: Kingston Viliamu-Asa or Jaiden Ausberry
2. Jaylen Sneed
Nickel: Dallas Golden
2. Portal Addition
CB: Christian Gray
2. Mark Zackery
CB: Leonard Moore
2. Khary Adams
S: Tae Johnson
2. Joey O'Brien
S: Adon Shuler
2. Luke Talich
Observation: The back end is loaded, but that front 4 lacks a lot of depth compared to 2025.
In the micro view, Burnham is a considerable loss. In the macro view, however, if we only lose 1 or 2 guys important pieces to the transfer level in each cycle and can bring in 6-7 key pieces in return, we've done pretty well.
My projection for the 2026 defensive 2-deep now looks something like this (obviously fluid)...
DE: Bryce Young
2. Portal Addition
NG: Justin Onye or Portal Addition
2. Armel Mukam
DT: Portal Addition
2. Elijah Hughes or Cole Mullins
DE: Boubacar Traore
2. Logan Thomas or Rodney Dunham
Mike: Drayk Bowen
2. Madden Faraimo
Will: Kingston Viliamu-Asa or Jaiden Ausberry
2. Jaylen Sneed
Nickel: Dallas Golden
2. Portal Addition
CB: Christian Gray
2. Mark Zackery
CB: Leonard Moore
2. Khary Adams
S: Tae Johnson
2. Joey O'Brien
S: Adon Shuler
2. Luke Talich
Observation: The back end is loaded, but that front 4 lacks a lot of depth compared to 2025.
IrishInOntario
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Botelho as well. 3 quality deoth pieces that could fit the run and add some pass rush. A lot to lose in 1 cycle.
IrishInOntario
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As a situational pass rusher I have a high degree of confidence that he'll play and contribute immediately. But anyone expecting him to be a snap eating 3 down defender, will definitely be mistaken. I'm not saying that's your claim, but I know that some people will be thinking it.
Even early enrolling and hitting the weight room hard, Dunham is probably going to be about 6'4, 245lbs as a freshman. That would be a tough ask in the run game.
I think he could be a 15-20 snap guy
NDPhilly
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Burgess ended up basically a fringe 5 star at the end of last cycle. Considering he’s already physically ahead of most freshmen, he should contribute, a lot. If not something is wrong. Him and Young should be fine as SDE’s. Mullins can also fit there, who looked solid in a limited roll.
Logan Thomas was a heralded recruit, has played a lot and has flashed. He needs to develop physically but the talent is there. Then you have Zinter, Hulak, Dunham that id expect to contribute as pass rushers. You also can use Sneed + Faraimo as talented blitzers as well.
If Burgess and Loghan can’t be strong contributors, then something is wrong with our DL development. The talent is there. Then you have enough potential otherwise to mix and match looks.
Logan Thomas was a heralded recruit, has played a lot and has flashed. He needs to develop physically but the talent is there. Then you have Zinter, Hulak, Dunham that id expect to contribute as pass rushers. You also can use Sneed + Faraimo as talented blitzers as well.
If Burgess and Loghan can’t be strong contributors, then something is wrong with our DL development. The talent is there. Then you have enough potential otherwise to mix and match looks.
Rocketman84
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Definitely have changed and this one really hurts because once again we won't be near the depth on the DL as the ELITES. A short rotation just hot shorter, Almost like we continue to take 2 steps forward to take 2 steps back.
stlnd01
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I was wondering if Junior was in fact done and it’s kinda wild but he played in every single game the last four years. He was never a star but a very solid contributor.
I don't get this. With Botehlo and Tuihalamaka graduating, and KVA out to start the season, there's an awful lot of pass rush reps to fill. Burnham would have been first man in at both end positions, and probably the third down rush specialist (KVA's late season spot) on a team that projects to be ahead in most of its games. Why would he pass on that role and a chance to win a championship?
IRISHbluehen
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I just think it's a bit unrealistic to expect upperclassmen to want to stay to be depth pieces if they have NFL aspirations.
As far as DL development goes, the fact that Burnham went from a OLB to serviceable 2 down DE is pretty impressive.
Think the misses on the DL in 2025 recruiting class are showing themselves. Need someone other than just Burgess to end up punching above their weight class.
As far as DL development goes, the fact that Burnham went from a OLB to serviceable 2 down DE is pretty impressive.
Think the misses on the DL in 2025 recruiting class are showing themselves. Need someone other than just Burgess to end up punching above their weight class.
IrishInOntario
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I suspect the reason is pretty simple. The combination of a raise and a high probability of starting reps in order to out extensive tape together before heading to the NFL Draft.
I also strongly suspect that Burnham's limited usage while battling injury earlier in the season caused some friction between he and the staff. Nothing serious, but enough to be considered alongside money and playing time.
JMO.
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IrishInOntario
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Completely agree. You can no longer afford to miss in any cycle. Obviously, you are not going to get 5 star talent every cycle, at every position, but you better get a player that you have confidence will be a contributing caliber player within their first two years on campus.
Misses can really leave expensive holes in the roster down the road. The completeness of the 2026 class is a blueprint for future classes if the hope is properly insulating the roster portal defections.
PutuporShutup
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The X factor in my opinion is Chris burgess. He’s already bigger and stronger than Hinish and more athletic than Burnham. He’s got some inside outside position flexibility. I’d be disappointed if he’s not in the 2 deep by mid season, it would most likely mean he’s not close to as good as his HS rankings. He’s didn’t have to come in and physically develop as much as some (young Burnham)
Coaches could keep him at 275 or have him come in at 290 and play more inside.
If Dixon isn’t ready to help inside some I’d be dissapointed as well. Washington would have missed out on DT recruiting 4 classes in a row if Dixon, sev, Mukam aren’t starter quality.
Coaches could keep him at 275 or have him come in at 290 and play more inside.
If Dixon isn’t ready to help inside some I’d be dissapointed as well. Washington would have missed out on DT recruiting 4 classes in a row if Dixon, sev, Mukam aren’t starter quality.
IrishInOntario
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Given that his body seemingly wants to grow, I suspect that he's on more of the Rylie Mills track of growing into a 300+lbs interior player. I could easily see him up in the 285-290lb range coming out of the winter.
That said, maybe he ends up being an Isaac Rochell type jumbo end at 280lbs, that can slide inside on pass rushing snaps, giving ND some much needed positional flexibility.
My guess is that his future is at DT rather than jumbo end, but time will tell.
I'm confident that one of Mukam, Mullins, Sevillano or Dixon will work their way into the #4 spot on the interior 2-deep. If Onye returns he's obviously the leader on the interior and Elijah Hughes has proven that he can play in the #3 role (#2 DT role). We'll need the transfer portal for at least another surefire starter and possibly two if Onye doesn't get another year.
I think that the depth on the interior will prove to be fine between Hughes, Mukam, Mullins, Sevillano, Dixon, Burgess and Golden. If the strength and defensive staffs can't have 2 of those 6 guys ready to play, they ought to be fired. The questions for me are about impact players. Does Onye get an extra year? Can you land a pair of Mateen Igbirogba or better type players in the Portal?
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dublinirish
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could see him ending up at Michigan State
IAIrish
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Burgess and Mullins are interesting for multiple reasons. Given Burgess' size at enrollment, it's natural to assume he'll continue on that track and grow into a 3T.
There was also talk last spring of Mullins being close to his ideal frame at 275. No idea if that's accurate, but if true, but it may make sense to swap these two and slot him at DE with Young. Really like the flashes we've seen from him and he'll be an upperclassmen next season, so strength should be there.
IrishInOntario
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I'm not opposed to the idea of a 290+lb Burgess on the interior if he carries the weight well and winds up as a plus interior defender. I'm also on board with Mullins playing DE around 270lbs IF and it's a big IF, he can rush the passer coming off the edge. Yes, he could slot in as a run down defender out there, with the number of teams passing on 1st down these days, he has to have a two way game for me to be comfortable slotting him in as the #4 DE and giving him 25'ish snaps per game.
I've go no agenda here. If it makes sense to add weight to Burgess and play him at 6'4, 290lbs on the interior and it makes sense to freeze the weight game or even have Mullins cut weight and play at 6'5, 270lbs as the #2 SDE, I'm here for it. We just don't know enough about the progression of either guy right now.
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Dale
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It’s a loss for sure but I think if Bryce Young turns it around people are gonna look back and realize making a big deal about pressures against a god awful Pitt OL and a bad, backup BC OL wasn’t a Herculean feat tbh. Was high effort down the stretch for sure
MacIrish75
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Entering the portal means he’s exploring his options. Might be a bit too optimistic, but he could always pull his name back out and opt to return…🤷🏼♂️
Dale
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He’s probably been exploring options since September
rtrn2glory
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I just worry that this is the same strategy that cost us early in the season not having veteran experience and leadership which I think definitely has been an issue the past two seasons. I was expecting a much bigger jump out of Bryce Young this past season and I didn't see anywhere close to it. I'm hesitant to bank too heavily on him or the guys behind him being productive at the level we need them to be.
With that said I don't know the whole story so if he was making demands financially or playing time wise that were unreasonable then I understand the move and just a little disappointed.
With that said I don't know the whole story so if he was making demands financially or playing time wise that were unreasonable then I understand the move and just a little disappointed.