by 
Soon after Chris Ash took the post of defensive coordinator at Notre Dame, he met Jason Onye.
It was early February. Onye was far from the team for personal reasons since early October. The public did not know – and still does not know the details of the absence of Onye, so naturally, Ash either. But when they met head-on, the besieged defensive tackle told him everything.
“Immediately, I was really impressed that he was ready to open up and tell myself what he experienced to come back where he is right now,” said Ash.
At the time, it was not sure that Onye would take over a blue and gold uniform. The Irish people acquired two defensive plated in the transfer portal, indicating that they were preparing for life without him.
Almost seven months later, we know we will play for Notre-Dame when the Irish people visit Miami on August 31. Not only that, but the senior Redsirt worked with the defense of the first team with three defensive techniques when the journalists attended the training of the fall camp.
Onye is a great story to return, to be clear. But in his last season at South Bend, he has a chance to be much more than that.
“He had a camp as good as I saw him in my four years,” said the Irish coach Marcus Freeman said. “He does not recall development. Everyone will not come here and be an All-American as a first year. If you believe in them and work with them, they can become something really good.”
‘An impressive transformation’
Forget everything that happened in the field, and the ascension of Onye to a defensive tackle of starting caliber is always impressive.
He has always shown lightning of greatness, especially as a pass rusher. In his last three games of 2024, he totaled 10 quarter-Arrière pressures. The coaches have constantly greeted the progress he has made. And yet, when the games started, consistency would become a problem. Too often, Onye would be in the wrong position or found himself taking away from his gap against the race.
However, when spring training started, something has changed.
“He was a completely different child,” said Ash. “He presented himself with a positive attitude, really ready to work every day. He is ready to be trained every day. He takes the coaching and applies it to the next series or afterwards, every time he gets it. He presents himself with a competitive spirit, trying to be the best he can be.”
Physically, the upper body of Onye was significantly larger (in the right direction). The defensive tackle 6 feet 5 inches of North Providence, RI crossed the threshold of 300 pounds for the first time in his career. But more importantly, Ash said, he started playing with more violence than ever.
“He does an excellent job with his hands and has a big blow in the racing game,” said Ash. “He understands how to precipitate the smuggler with his abilities, and I love it.
“Where he was there when I got here where he is today is really an impressive transformation.”
Whether onye or a senior redsirt colleague Gabriel Rubio Gets the starting head of three techniques, the two veterans will turn strongly in Miami. Alongside Junior Redshirt Donovan Hinish and transfer of Louisville of sixth year Jared Dawson In the tackle of the nose, Notre Dame believes that he can go to two depths in both places on the interior defensive line without falling too much.
One thing is clear: Onye’s trip from where it was in October 2024 where it is now is incredible.
“To show this community and these staff and this university surrounded him with resources to help him and to see how he plays now, I know he will do great things for us in football,” said Freeman. “But history should not be that; What history should be is how it has overcome adversity and developed during its four years here. ”
Freeman added that he expects to do a “very good job” for Notre Dame this year. Given its physical advantage, this is excellent news for the Irish.
