This Guy Plays Notre Dame Football: #57 Jayson Ademilola, Defensive Tackle

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have a roster full of players, and we want to talk about them all. One Foot Down’s player profile series will, once again, take a look at every single one of them, and hopefully, we all learn a little bit more about these guys, and Notre Dame’s chances for the upcoming 2021 season.

#57 Jayson Ademilola, DT

Whether it’s stepping up to replace a sidelined teammate, or staying aggressive while dealing with an injury of his own, the Irish have been able to count on this defensive tackle to deliver. Ademilola came to South Bend from St. Peter’s Prep in Jackson, New Jersey. In high school, he helped lead his team to the 2017 New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Non-Public Group 4 state championship, was chosen for the U.S. Army All-American Bowl the following year, and received offers from powerhouses such as Alabama and Clemson.

Photo by Matt Cashore-Pool/Getty Images

In his first season with Notre Dame, he was able to see action in 11 out of 12 games and step up for his team following MTA’s foot injury. As a sophomore, he claimed five tackles in the Duke game and three against the Navy Midshipmen.

This past season, a meniscus tear may not have been part of his plan for the season, but Ademilola was able to chalk up two tackles against Clemson in the ACC Championship after another prior stout performance in a previous matchup with the Tigers. He later recorded five against the Alabama Crimson Tide in the Rose Bowl.

The Restaurant That Fits

The grind never stops for this defensive tackle. Rise and shine, because we’re going with Dunkin’.

2021 Outlook

Ever since Ademilola’s arrival in South Bend, he has seen a steady increase in play and production. His time on the field has been very productive, and in 2021 the Irish will need even more of it on the defensive line. With Myron Tagovailola’s shift out to play defensive end, Jayson’s playing time next to Kurt Hinish will only increase. Due to the way Mike Elston loves to use his deep pool of talent in a rotation, the extra work for Ademilola still won’t be something that grind him down too bad. Expect a very good year from Jayson down inside this front seven.

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