Bodie Kahoun joins Notre Dame football's talented, deep group of linebackers

SOUTH BEND — Bodie Kahoun knows what he’s getting into.

Drafted this summer by the Notre Dame football team, the linebacker knows the type of players he’s looking at on the depth chart. That won’t stop the Roanoke, Virginia, native from doing everything he can to see snaps on the field during his first season.

“I would say I imagined it was hard — and I chose hard,” Kahoun said. “So far I like it.”

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Kahoun was a lacrosse player at Ohio State before his football career took off two years ago. He notably had 200 tackles and was named Patrick Henry High School’s Defensive Player of the Year as a senior. He was also recognized as a first-team All-State linebacker in Class 5A in Virginia.

Kahoun is now preparing for a new challenge at Notre Dame. Although two of last year’s starting linebackers — Marist Liufau and J.D. Bertrand — have graduated, several juniors and sophomores are vying for Will and Mike’s linebacker spots.

Mike’s position, otherwise known as middle linebacker, is where coaches have Kahoun working.

“It’s my favorite position because you can go left and right,” Kahoun said of Mike. “You don’t have to move to one side of the field. You’re kind of the quarterback of the defense.”

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The third linebacker spot, Rover, is reserved for sixth-year senior Jack Kiser. The 2018 Indiana Mr. Football from Pioneer High School has one season of eligibility remaining after the COVID-19 pandemic year of 2020. Kiser has played in 53 games during his Notre Dame career, which is 11 behind 2022 graduate Houston Griffith for the most in program history.

While Kahoun has played some old man jokes on Kiser — including when they were playing pickleball two weeks ago — the freshman knows what type of leader he has in the veteran.

“He’s been one of the best leaders I’ve ever had, even though I’ve only been here a week and a half,” Kahoun said. “I feel like he’s like a big brother. I greatly admire. He’s taught me almost everything so far. »

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Having someone on the field like Kiser is important to Kahoun. Just as ideal is the coaching staff that supports him in his position at Notre Dame.

Linebackers coach Max Bullough has NFL experience, having played a few years with the Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns. Defensive coordinator Al Golden was the Cincinnati Bengals’ linebackers coach before taking his current job at Notre Dame. Head coach Marcus Freeman was a linebacker himself in college and coached the position for years at multiple stops.

“My first live show was in front of (Freeman), and he took me aside and criticized the way I was doing it,” Kahoun said. “He is one of the nicest people I have ever met. But he can change direction, which I love. It’s not going to be like, “Hey buddy, do this.” I love how it will get in people’s faces, including mine, and help them very quickly. »

Kahoun also noticed a meritocracy in the way Golden runs the defense in practice.

“I missed an opportunity and (Golden) pulled me,” Kahoun said. “I lost my chance; he said to me: “Next”. And if Jack is wrong, I’ll take his place. One thing I like is that no one has a place. This is not guaranteed. It all depends on who works the hardest. »

There will be a lot of competition for playing time at the linebacker position this fall. Of the 12 linebackers on the roster, Kiser is the only one to have significant playing time at this position. That leaves players like junior Jaylen Sneed, sophomores Jaiden Ausberry, Preston Zinter and Drayk Bowen, and freshman Kyngtsonn Vilamu-Asa among those poised to see a lot of snaps during the season.

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Kahoun’s best chance to see the field might come on special teams. He has already worked with special teams coach Marty Biagi while maintaining his focus on the linebackers.

“There are some starters right now, but nothing is guaranteed,” Kahoun said. “A few guys get hurt, go down, and you never know what’s next. So, I’m always ready. I want to play as much as I can. Just special teams or if that means playing defense, I’ll be happy to play anywhere.”