How Jevaughn Codlin's 'contagious' energy drives Notre Dame football
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SOUTH BEND —Jevaughn Codlin spent about two months as the safeties coach at North Texas, but his U-turn back to Notre Dame football's coaching staff last month was met with resounding approval.
“That’s my dog,” freshman cornerback Khary Adams said recently. “When I was getting recruited, he was really involved. One of the reasons why I came here is we had a strong relationship.”
Codlin, who worked with Irish defensive linemen as an analyst in 2025, was rehired in mid-February to coach Notre Dame safeties.
A former defensive back at Kansas Wesleyan, an NAIA program in Salina, Kan., Codlin was credited with 145 tackles and 45 pass breakups from 2016-19. He later played in the Indoor Football League with the Spokane Shock, Quad City Steamwheelers and Bismarck Bucks before going into coaching.
He spent the 2022 season at Emporia (Kan.) State before a two-year stint at West Virginia under then-coach Neal Brown. It was Brown who hired him upon his arrival at North Texas, but Irish coach Marcus Freeman was able to steal Codlin back from his previous mentor.
Casey McHugh, Notre Dame’s senior analyst and assistant defensive backs coach the past two seasons, left in mid-February for Western Michigan.
Codlin’s return helps ease the transition from defensive pass game coordinator Mike Mickens, who left in late January after six seasons for the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens, to former Illinois co-defensive coordinator Aaron Henry.
'Contagious' energy makes Jevaughn Codlin a pivotal re-hire
Multiple 2026 signees with the Irish credited Codlin for his work in forging strong bonds during the recruiting process.
“Just the energy,” Adams said. “He brings it every day. He's always trying to meet and get us better.”
That takes some of the burden off Henry, who will serve as co-DC alongside his career mentor, Chris Ash.
Ayden Pouncey, a midyear enrollee as a defensive back from Orlando, is a second cousin of twins Maurkice and Mike Pouncey, who starred at Florida and played in the NFL.
Two of Ayden Pouncey’s older brothers played major college football.
Jordan Pouncey, a wide receiver who de-committed from Notre Dame, played at Texas and later at Florida from 2018 to 2022. Ethan Pouncey, a defensive back, played in 14 total games over two seasons at Florida (2021-22) before transferring to Georgia Southern.
“I still never thought I would end up here,” Ayden Pouncey said. “Then I had a conversation with J-Cod. He called me one day, and I just talked to him for like an hour. He pretty much convinced me and my mom (Erica) to come on a visit. My mom was definitely a big fan.”
Freshman safety Nick Reddish, a Charlotte, N.C., product, had a similar experience with Codlin.
“We call him J-Cod down here,” Reddish said. “He recruited me for the most part. He was my main recruiter. Great guy.”
The roles were reversed in February as Codlin weighed an offer to return.
“He had told me, ‘I don’t know if this is the right decision,’ “ Reddish said. “I’m like, ‘Coach, we miss you so much. We need you. Everything about you.’ The first day back, he felt a little iffy.“
Any misgivings soon gave way to the comfort of being among recruits and returning players who had already grown to trust Codlin.
“He just knows so much football,” Reddish said. “It’s just amazing. We have a meeting with him almost every other day.”
And Codlin’s peripatetic nature on the practice field?
“Contagious,” Reddish said. “That’s the biggest word. It’s contagious. If you feel somebody’s energy, you know you have to step it up. You just have to keep it going.”
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame football values new safeties coach Jevaughn Codlin
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