Notre Dame DE Justin Ademilola declares for the 2023 NFL Draft
Notre Dame will officially be without its three best pass-rushers in terms of quarterback pressures. Defensive end Justin Ademilola declared for the NFL Draft on Friday morning.
“To my coaches and teammates: what an honor it has been to play for Notre Dame and live out my dream,” Ademilola wrote in a social media post. “Thank you for all you have done to impact my life.”
Ademilola had one more year of eligibility. He decided to forego it and follow his twin brother, Jayson, to the next level as a part of the same draft class. Jayson and Justin ranked second and third, respectively, on the Notre Dame roster in QB pressures according to Pro Football Focus with 25 and 24. Isaiah Foskey topped the list with 33. All three are draft hopefuls this spring.
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A source close to Ademilola said his decision was a “very difficult one to make.” Had he chosen to return to Notre Dame, he could have taken over for Foskey as the team’s starting Vyper, the Fighting Irish’s term for weak-side defensive end. Ademilola was credited with seven starts in Notre Dame’s 13 games in 2022. He’d have been in line to start every game next season like Foskey did the last two seasons en route to becoming the program’s all-time leader in sacks.
Ademilola’s career comes to a close with 109 total tackles, 13.0 tackles for loss, 9.0 sacks, 2 passes defended, 2 fumble recoveries and 1 forced fumble in five seasons. Ademilola had a career-high 39 tackles in 2022, but his sack total dropped from 5.0 in 2021 to 3.0 in 2022. His tackles for loss also decreased from 6.0 to 3.5.
The waiver granted to every player who appeared in the 2020 season altered by the COVID-19 pandemic gave Ademilola the chance to play a sixth season in South Bend, but he instead has elected to test his luck as a professional. He arrived on campus in 2018 as a three-star prospect and the No. 584 overall recruit in his class but blossomed into a heavily-used staple along the defensive line.
Notre Dame has questions to answer in the pass-rushing department with the losses of Foskey and the Ademilola twins. The Irish could certainly look to the transfer portal for a replacement, but the coaching staff is going to have to focus on the development of players like rising graduate student Nana Osafo-Mensah and seniors Rylie Mills and Jordan Botelho to provide depth and production.
Ademilola is rooting for them and every other player he leaves behind.
“I want all my teammates to know just how much I love and appreciate all of them,” Ademilola said. “The brotherhood we share at Notre Dame is truly a blessing, and I will never forget it.”
