Notre Dame football LB Jack Kiser returning for a sixth season
At least one of Notre Dame football’s veteran linebackers intends to run it back with the Fighting Irish in 2024. On Wednesday, graduate student linebacker Jack Kiser announced he will return to Notre Dame for a sixth season.
The 6-foot-1⅝, 232-pound Kiser was one of three fifth-year linebackers to log over 300 snaps for the Irish in 2023. Despite his 327 snaps accounting for about 40% of total defensive plays, Kiser was tied for the team lead with 40 solo tackles, along with fellow graduate student linebacker JD Bertrand. Kiser was third on the team in total tackles with 59.
Bertrand still has to decide whether to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft or return for a sixth season. Graduate student Marist Liufau announced on Dec. 5 that he would forego his final year of collegiate eligibility to try his hand at the professional ranks. Liufau also opted out of the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl.
The trio of Bertrand, Kiser and Liufau accounted for about a quarter of the team’s 432 solo tackles in 2023. Kiser has especially been a cornerstone over the last few seasons.
In his five seasons at Notre Dame, Kiser has played in 52 games and started in 17. He has 182 career tackles (110 solo), including 10.5 for loss, 3.5 sacks, 10 pass breakups, 4 interceptions and 4 forced fumbles.
In 2023, Kiser was exceptional in run defense and pass coverage. He led the team in both categories with respective Pro Football Focus grades of 85.5 and 89.1. Kiser ranked No. 7 among Power Five linebackers that played at least 20% of game snaps in both categories.
Kiser was also third on the team with 27 run stops as a graduate student He only trailed fellow graduate student defensive tackle Howard Cross III (32) and Bertrand (30).
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As a senior in 2022, Kiser also registered a solid 80.5 PFF run defense grade, which ranked No. 3 on the team and led linebackers. His 24 run stops ranked third once again last year. Bertrand led the team with 36 and defensive lineman Isaiah Foskey had 26.
According to Pro Football Focus, Kiser had the team’s best-tackling grade (89.4) in 2022.
Kiser was also the team’s best-run defender in 2021. PFF gave him an 83 grade, over four points higher than the next best one (Foskey). He was tied for ninth on the team with 13 run stops and played 43.3% of snaps. Foskey was first with 35 and saw the field on about 20% more plays.
In 2020, Kiser again achieved the team’s best PFF tacking grade at 89.0 and was third in run defense (80.4). He had nine-run stops and played about 17% of defensive snaps during that sophomore campaign.
Kiser is originally from Royal Center (Ind.) Pioneer High. He enrolled with the Irish as a member of the 2019 recruiting class. He signed with Notre Dame over six Power Five scholarship offers.
