Everyone loves to do a player countdown for Notre Dame as we face toward the college football season, but in all fairness, the offseason is much shorter than you think. It’s really only two months in the grand scheme of things, and there will be much more to talk about in the middle of July with media days — so why not deal with the profiles before then?
Welcome to the Triple Threat series. We will profile every player on Notre Dame’s roster, but I’m going to give you three at a time to save some
time. Every Triple Threat post will include one offensive player, one defensive player, and one newcomer (freshman or transfer) until we have to do some different combos down the road.
So let’s get started with today’s Triple Threat:
OL Anthonie Knapp #54
DB Adon Shuler #8
WR Mylan Graham #3
ANTHONIE KNAPP #54
HEIGHT 6-5
WEIGHT 304
CLASS JUNIOR
HOMETOWN ROSWELL, GA
HIGH SCHOOL ROSWELL
It feels like Anthonie Knapp was never supposed to be here. Knapp was an often overlooked 3-Star recruit, and he was coming to Notre Dame which annually brings in 4 and 5 star offensive lineman. And yet… he started game one at LT for the Irish at Texas A&M in 2024. Knapp won the job as injuries forced Notre Dame to insert the true freshman, but he helped lead the Irish to the national championship game.
Even though Knapp started at LT for two straight seasons, Joe Rudolph moved him inside to play LG this spring. In all fairness, Knapp is much better suited to play LG than LT, and with all of this experience he can help bring along redshirt freshman Will Black (who is slotted to start there this year). Knapp’s steady play and leadership will be vital for Notre Dame in 2026.
ADON SHULER #8
HEIGHT 6-0
WEIGHT 202
CLASS JUNIOR
HOMETOWN IRVINGTON, NJ
HIGH SCHOOL IRVINGTON
Often times it feels like Adon Shuler is overlooked by the media and even the fanbase. In an Irish defensive backfield that had Xavier Watts and Leonard Moore, Shuler has been the odd man out in casual conversations — which really says more about those in the conversation than Shuler himself. Not only has Adon become a physical presence in the middle of the field, he has been a reliable playmaker worthy of being considered as one of the best safeties in the nation.
Shuler will likely be a captain again in 2026 just as he was in 2025, and he will help lead what might be the nation’s best secondary. Over the last two seasons he has racked up 112 tackles, 5 INT, 1 sack, and 3 forced fumbles — and there’s no reason to think he won’t be on the same level or better in 2026. For the Irish defense to truly reach its potential, Shuler will have to help lead the way — and there’s no reason to think he won’t.
MYLAN GRAHAM #3
HEIGHT 6-1
WEIGHT 192
CLASS SOPHOMORE
HOMETOWN FORT WAYNE, IN
HIGH SCHOOL NEW HAVEN
Graham was a massive 5-Star wide receiver in the state of Indiana, but in that neck of the woods, it was just common sense that a player would go to Ohio State under WR coach, Brian Hartline. After all — that’s what 5-Star wide receivers were doing from any place in the country. Mylan didn’t see much time on the field while in Columbus, and pulled in just 6 receptions for 93 yards last season.
The departure of Hartline, along with Graham’s already solid relationships with Notre Dame players from Fort Wayne, gave the rising talent a route to go and do something different. While int was exciting to get a former 5-Star to transfer to Notre Dame over the offseason, the limited amount of time we saw Graham this spring makes it even more exciting. He moves differently out there, and Irish fans could be in for a real treat this season seeing Graham playing catch with CJ Carr.
