Notre Dame football: What to expect from Jaylen Sneed in Year 1
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football team has an elite talent in Jaylen Sneed, but what can we really expect from him in Year 1?
The Notre Dame football team is in a great spot when it comes to the linebacker position heading into the 2022 season. They already have tremendous veteran talent in the starting lineup, guys who have played in some huge games before, and some young players behind them that could make a serious impact next season.
The 2022 recruiting class is loaded at the linebacker position, so overall, this group in South Bend will be solid for years to come. When you add to the fact that head coach Marcus Freeman is a linebacker guru, you have the combination for the second level of this Irish defense to be elite for years to come.
In 2022, the expectation is that the veterans will start, as Jack Kiser, Marist Liufau, and JD Bertrand are all seniors. Bo Bauer and Jordan Bothelo are back as well, providing veteran depth behind the starters, while Prince Kollie should improve in a big way in Year 2.
While all this talent is remarkable, it could be a true freshman that comes in and takes the program by storm in 2022. Jaylen Sneed was a top-5 linebacker in the country, and the key to the Irish’s 2022 recruiting class, but what can we expect from him this season?
What can Notre Dame football expect from Sneed in Year 1
Sneed is not going to crack the starting lineup in Year 1 due to the fact the Irish have veterans returning who have played at a high level. What Sneed can accomplish as a true freshman is getting valuable reps, helping this team in any way he can in the early going, before taking on an expanded role late in the season.
He is the kind of athlete that is going to get on the field one way or another, and it won’t be long before Freeman is ready to trust him in big situations. There is also the fact that injuries happen at the linebacker spot, so Sneed is going to get a lot of playing time in Year 1.
In 2023, Sneed is going to be the unquestioned leader of this linebacker group, as he and Kollie usher in the next era of linebacker play at the university. Sneed is a guy who I could see racking up a few sacks this season, possibly an interception, and showing the kind of athleticism that made him the key recruit for the 2022 class.