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Notre Dame 2026 Player Profile: Linebacker Jaiden Ausberry
- Story byRoundtable Sports
- Notre Dame 2026 Player Profile: Linebacker Jaiden Ausberry
(Angela Driskell, Irish Breakdown)
Notre Dame returns the best linebacking corps in the nation this season. They bring back both starters from last year and all three of their rotation players as well. One player in this outstanding and talented group that continues to get overlooked is Jaiden Ausberry , but after starting 10 games last season and returning to the squad in 2026, the Louisiana native will look to put everyone on notice this fall.
Here is our 2026 preview and profile for Ausberry:
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JAIDEN AUSBERRY PROFILE
Class/Eligibility: Senior/Junior
Height/Weight: 6-1, 226
Hometown/High School: Baton Rouge, La./University Lab
CAREER STATS
2025: 51 tackles, 4.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks, 1 FF, 24 run stops (PFF)
2024: 56 tackles, 6.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 1 pass defended, 26 run stops (PFF)
2023: 3 tackles, 1 run stop (PFF)
CAREER: 110 tackles, 10.5 TFL, 2.5 sacks, 1 FF, 1 pass defended, 51 run stops (PFF)
2025 SEASON IN REVIEW
Ausberry played in all 12 games last season and started the final 10 games of the regular season from Purdue to their final road game against Stanford. Through 12 games, the 6-1, 226-pound backer recorded 51 tackles, 4.0 tackles for a loss and two sacks. He was also credited with 24 run stops, amongst the leaders of the team. Ausberry's best game of the season came against Navy where he recorded eight tackles, one sack, two tackles for a loss and a forced fumble.
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The Louisiana native also played well against Miami on the road in the season opener recording five tackles despite not starting against the Hurricanes. Throughout his time in South Bend, Ausberry has been one of Notre Dame's most consistent defenders. He doesn't get the recognition he deserves, but he's been one of their more consistent linebackers the last two seasons. He was tied for second on the defense in 2024 in tackles for a loss, and only started two games.
FALL CAMP PREVIEW
The 6-1, 226-pound linebacker is coming off of an interesting spring. Last season, he started 10 games, all at Will linebacker. This spring, due to injuries to Drayk Bowen , Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa , Madden Faraimo and Kahanu Kia, Ausberry was the first-team defense's Mike linebacker. Obviously, this was only temporary due to the return of Bowen and Viliamu-Asa in the summer and fall camp, but the experience Ausberry got in spring training at middle linebacker is going to pay major dividends throughout the remainder of the offseason.
Ausberry will now be able to help set the defense and get them into the right looks, alongside Bowen, now that he has experience as the Mike linebacker. He's also going into his second year in the Chris Ash system which should help as well. If you didn't know any better, Ausberry looked like a very natural Mike linebacker, but his role will be at the Will for the remainder of the offseason. The name of the game is simple for the Louisiana native: keep doing what you're doing and take on a leadership role this offseason.
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2026 EXPECTATIONS
I fully expect Ausberry to be the starting Will linebacker for the duration of the season. New linebackers coach Brian Jean-Mary is walking into a room that returns both starters from last season in Bowen and Ausberry. Notre Dame also returns all three key rotational players in Jaylen Sneed , Viliamu-Asa and Faraimo. All five will play, there's no doubt around that. There remains some questions around what the rotation will look like, but I fully expect Ausberry to pick up where he left off last season.
He's been one of the most productive players on defense the last two seasons tallying 107 tackles and 10.5 tackles for a loss. Those numbers will continue to increase, especially with the odds of Notre Dame playing a 15 to 16 game season being very high. Ausberry will be one of the many leaders on the defense that they'll have on the field and will join Bowen in being one of the primary drivers of defensive success and getting everyone aligned.
With Notre Dame's defensive line expecting to take a jump in production, players like Ausberry will continue to reap the benefits. There will be a heavy focus on stopping the run this season, and the Louisiana native will have the opportunity to put up some impressive numbers like he did against Navy and Boise State last season.
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A GOOD SEASON FOR AUSBERRY WOULD BE ....
One where he locks down the starting Will position and is one of the team leaders in tackles for a loss. Ausberry has been an extremely productive player during his time in South Bend and I don't see this season being the end to that narrative. He was tied for No. 2 on the team in 2024 in tackles for a loss and only started in two games in their 16 game season. Ausberry has been one of Notre Dame's best defenders, but the hype around him doesn't seem as loud as some other players. That comes to an end this season.
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