Tae Johnson, Notre Dame secondary stands out as Irish open spring practice
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Notre Dame football opened spring practice Thursday with 96 players on the roster beginning preparations for the 2026 season. The first session of the spring also marked Year 5 for head coach Marcus Freeman, as expectations remain high in South Bend following the Irish’s early postseason exit last year. Still, despite the outside anticipation, coaches and players emphasized afterward that there is plenty of work ahead before Notre Dame opens its season in September against Wisconsin. That work was evident on the defensive side of the ball, where the secondary set the tone early. Safety Tae Johnson delivered one of the most impressive performances of the day, coming away with two interceptions — both in deep coverage. His second turned heads as he tracked the ball from center field and made a leaping grab near the sideline. On top of that, Johnson added a pass breakup, capping a strong and active showing. Johnson wasn’t alone in making plays in the secondary. Freshman defensive back Nick Reddish made an immediate impact as well, returning an interception for a pick-six against freshman quarterback Noah Grubbs. Grubbs is one of three freshmen currently competing for the backup role behind projected starter CJ Carr. At cornerback, Dallas Golden also contributed with a pass breakup, rounding out a productive day for the defensive backs as a unit. While the group showed flashes, availability remains a storyline early in the spring. Cornerback Leonard Moore was limited after tweaking his ankle over spring break, though he was in uniform during Friday’s practice. Meanwhile, linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa continues to recover from ACL surgery and will not participate this spring, with his timeline for a return in the fall still unclear. Defensive coordinator Chris Ash said the group’s energy and competitiveness stood out immediately. “There’s been great recall from the guys that have been here, but they are just eager to get back out,” Ash said. “They had a lot of competitive spirit in them. Today they competed their butts off. They were a lot of fun, a lot of energy and a lot of juice — lots of guys flying around there and enjoying what they’re doing.” As spring practice continues, Notre Dame will look to build on that early energy while evaluating depth and competition across the roster.