Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa
Notre Dame#44 overallDraft Movement
Down 11 spots since Jun 8
Scouting Report
Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa is the do-everything centerpiece of Notre Dame's second level and the most talented linebacker in the early 2027 class. He owns a long, explosive 6-foot-3, 230-pound frame and moves in space like a safety, flowing laterally to beat ball carriers to their landmarks and erase perimeter runs before they develop. His processing is elite: he diagnoses inside zone and gap concepts instantly, navigates traffic cleanly, and arrives on balance with violent pop in his pads when he triggers downhill. Run defense is the calling card, sitting at the very top of the position, and his 2025 tape backs it up with a 15.2 percent run-stop rate and run-defense grades that rank near the best in the country. He is a genuine chess piece, lining up as a stacked linebacker, in the slot, and on the line, with real value as a timed edge blitzer who turned 23 pressures into consistent backfield disruption. In coverage he carries tight ends and backs vertically, closes throwing windows underneath with burst, and allowed just a 55.0 passer rating on targets in 2025. His overall grade jumped sharply from his freshman to his sophomore season, climbing into the top handful nationally among Power Four linebackers. He backed up his sideline-to-sideline range with signature games, closing Boston College with two sacks and six run stops and stoning Boise State for seven tackles, three stops, and a breakup. The range, the trigger, and the alignment flexibility are all real and translate directly to a modern three-down NFL role. There is a legitimate world where he plays MIKE, WILL, or SAM at the next level and makes an impact at any of them. The medical is the swing factor, as a torn left ACL against Syracuse ended his 2025 season and he already lost a high school year to a right ACL tear. At 230 pounds he can be tested by downhill power between the tackles, and his pass-rush plan needs counters beyond winning with pure range. He also carries a light body of work, having never hand
The Tape
Strengths
- Elite, top-of-position run defender who triggers downhill fast and meets runs at or behind the line (top-of-class run-defense grade, 15.2% run-stop rate in 2025)
- Rare sideline-to-sideline range that erases perimeter runs and lets him cover ground like a safety
- Outstanding instincts and processing speed, diagnosing inside zone and gap concepts instantly and navigating traffic cleanly
- Genuine three-down coverage value, carrying tight ends and backs vertically and allowing just a 55.0 passer rating on targets in 2025
- Versatile chess piece who aligns as a stacked linebacker, in the slot, and on the line
- Effective, well-timed edge blitzer who turned 23 pressures into backfield disruption (13.9% pressure rate)
- Violent, downhill hitter with real pop in his pads who arrives on balance and finishes through contact
- Massive year-two ascension, climbing into the top handful nationally among Power Four linebackers
Weaknesses
- Durability is the key red flag, a torn left ACL ended his 2025 season and he previously lost a high school year to a right ACL tear
- Light for the position at 230 pounds and can be tested by downhill power between the tackles
- Limited body of work, has never carried a full-season starter's workload and needs more high-volume production
- Pass-rush toolbox is underdeveloped, lacking counters when his initial rush is stalled
- Can play out of control as a rusher at times, needing to become a more patient player as the game slows
- Play strength is a work in progress against offensive linemen who climb cleanly to the second level
- Missed-tackle rate is a finish detail to tighten (13.2% in 2025, seven missed tackles)
NFL Comparison
Tremaine Edmunds (long, explosive off-ball linebacker who erases space with elite range and coverage rather than point-of-attack power); Zack Baun (versatile off-ball-plus-edge chess piece a defense can move around the formation)
College Stats
2024 (Notre Dame): 14 games, 37 tackles, 1 INT on 343 snaps (true freshman); 2025 (Notre Dame): 11 games, 48 tackles, 7.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks, 1 INT, 1 fumble recovery on 435 snaps (season ended by ACL vs Syracuse); Career: 25 games, 85 tackles, 12.5 TFL, 4.0 sacks, 2 INT, 3 PBU, 2 fumble recoveries
College Market Value
Our model prices him at $755K on the open college market, built from production, pedigree, role and Notre Dame's program money. No credible deal has been reported for him this season.
Every P4 player priced, math public: College players & NIL · Roster spend
Measurables
Awards & Honors
2023 High School Butkus Award finalist; 2023 LA Times Player of the Year; CIF Defensive Player of the Year; 2026 Lott IMPACT Trophy Watch List