2025 Team Preview: Notre Dame Prep Defense

As we continue to roll out our team previews, we'll shine some light on the top storylines and the breakout players you won't want to miss. We will resume in the 5A Northeast Division with the Notre Dame Prep Saints defense.    2026 Athlete [player_tooltip player_id='1701761' first='Landon' last='Stych'] embodies what it means to be an overall well-rounded football player. During his junior season, he contributed on both sides of the ball. However, he saw limited action, appearing in roughly half the games last season. This does not detract from his productivity on both sides of the ball, as he came away with 2 receiving TDs at receiver and 23 total tackles, 16 of which were solo tackles, at the linebacker position. The first thing you will notice is how well he moves on the field, displaying fantastic open-field agility and movement skills. His tall frame allows him to be a threat in the red zone, combined with both quickness and a wide catch radius. What really impresses about Stych's defensive game is his range, as he was often asked to spy on QBs and did an excellent job chasing them down for little to no gain. With a full senior season in front of him, look out for Stych to make an impact on both sides of the ball.      2027 Linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='1190653' first='Gunnar' last='Perry'] will look to be the tone setter up front for this Notre Dame Defense. Off of his sophomore year campaign, he compiled 77 total tackles, 49 of those as solo tackles, 1 sack and 1 pass deflection. He has a great frame for the position, standing at 6'0 210lbs, with a stocky upper body build. He has remarkable instincts, as he is able to read a play perfectly and always puts himself in the proper position. When he tackles, he makes sure that he delivers with thunderous hits that leave impressions on ball carriers over the course of the game. Perry is definitely a defender to watch out for as he looks to solidify himself as one of the best defenders in the state this next season.      2027 Defensive back [player_tooltip player_id='1603435' first='Mason' last='Pavone'] is an exciting talent in the secondary for this Notre Dame Prep defense. Playing his first full season on varsity as a sophomore, he had 78 total tackles, 51 of those as solo tackles, 2 INT, and 6 pass deflections. Pavone mainly played at the strong safety position but showcases the sideline-to-sideline speed and range to play at the one-high free safety position as well. Pavone already takes excellent angles of pursuit toward his target, whether it is coming downhill to lay a hit in the run game or cover his man downfield in the passing game. He has great transition speed and outstanding hand timing to be a playmaker on the backend. With a marvelous sophomore season under his belt, look out for Pavone to etch his name as one of the best safeties in the state.      Get ready for 2027 Defensive Lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1399755' first='Nathan' last='Jones'] to be a game wrecker on this Notre Dame Prep defense. His numbers from his sophomore season are absurd, as he finished with 71 total tackles, 50 of those as solo tackles, 13 sacks, 18 TFLs, 2 forced fumbles, and 5 pass deflections. The first thing you should know about Jones is that he is a competitor, constantly seeking to compete at a high level in whatever he does. Lining up on the edge, he can beat his opponents in a plethora of ways. His bull rush is his signature as he uses his long arms to plow linemen right into the lap of the quarterback. He can also beat you with speed, as he has great twitchiness and short-area quickness to separate past blockers. His ability to finish on the quarterback is his best trait, as he consistently seeks to create turnovers or bring down the opposing signal-caller with emphasis in the dirt. Jones' game speaks for itself. If he can elevate his game even further in his junior season, he will not only be one of the best defenders in the state but also one of the best in the country.      2027 Defensive Lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1709812' first='Brayden' last='Lavinia'] looks to compile a compelling junior season for this front four on defense. In his first varsity season as a sophomore, he had 19 total tackles, 8 of those as solo tackles, 1.5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles and 2 pass deflections. Lavinia's explosive first step and short-area quickness make him a constant threat off the snap, often proving too much for interior linemen to handle. He wreaks havoc for offenses as he always seeks to punch the ball and slam down the opponent in the backfield. With many seniors on the defensive line graduating from the previous season, look for Lavinia's numbers to take a massive leap in his junior year.      2026 Defensive Back Brayden Kuemmerle looks to aid on the backend for his defensive secondary. He hasn't had his opportunity yet in his high school career, but he has been demonstrating in the springtime that he possesses a valuable skill set. Kuemmerle is a very physical defender at the line of scrimmage, always seeking to press his opponents before sinking into his drop. He is definitely a corner who thrives in zone coverage, keeping his head on a swivel and reading the quarterback's eyes to cover the most ground. Kummerle in his senior season will look to prove that he has what it takes to be a meaningful contributor to his defense.   <figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper"> https://twitter.com/BKuemmerle46607/status/1935832475923890577 </div></figure>

As we continue to roll out our team previews, we'll shine some light on the top storylines and the breakout players you won't want to miss. We will resume in the 5A Northeast Division with the Notre Dame Prep Saints defense.