After a slow start, Notre Dame found gold in the transfer portal to set them up for a championship run in 2026. The signees included two blue chip wide receivers from Ohio State, a pair of talented cornerbacks, and three much-needed defensive linemen. Meanwhile, fourteen Irish players transferred out, although only two were projected to be key contributors next season. Let us review the comings and goings.

Incoming signees:

Jayden Sanders. CB Michigan

The 6’1″ Sanders played well for the Wolverines in a reserve role as a true freshman in 2025. He was a elite recruit from Texas who also excelled at basketball and track. Sanders also has the physical makeup to play safety if needed. He has three years of eligibility remaining.

DJ McKinney, CB Colorado

Another highly decorated athlete from Texas, McKinney also ran track in high school. He has plus speed (4.41 forty-yard dash) and stands at 6’2″. McKinney is a physical player and sure tackler who projects as a nickel back for Notre Dame. He is a graduate transfer with one year of eligibility remaining.

Cornerback was definitely a position of need for the Irish, who lacked depth going forward. Veterans Chance Tucker and Karson Hobbs transferred out in this cycle along with freshman Cree Thomas. Also, nickel back DeVonta Smith exhausted his eligibility. That leaves starters Leonard Moore and Christian Gray with rising sophomore backups Mark Zachary and Dallas Golden. Both Moore and Gray missed time due to injury in 2025. Zachary and Golden were forced into action before they were physically ready for the college game. They flashed their talents and played well at times but were overmatched on several occasions. Both will be better prepared this season.

Sanders and McKinney provide quality options, especially since the Irish often have three cornerbacks on the field. Their presence makes it possible for incoming freshman Khary Adams and Chaston Smith to learn at their own pace.

Quincy Porter, WR Ohio State

Porter is a former five-star recruit who spent his freshman season as a reserve for the Buckeyes in 2025. He has three years of eligibility remaining. Porter stands at 6’4″ and is 210 pounds. The Irish pursued him to fill the boundary receiver position previously occupied by Malachi Fields. Both Ohio State and Notre Dame wanted Porter and made significant offers but the Irish were able to prevail.

Mylan Graham, WR Ohio State

Graham spent two seasons at Ohio State and redshirted during his freshman campaign in 2024. He has three years of eligibility remaining. The Buckeyes made a last-ditch effort to hold onto Graham but once again the Irish won his commitment.

Landing receivers of this pedigree immediately elevates Notre Dame’s offense. Depth and production were sorely needed as Fields departed and KK Smith transferred. Only returning seniors Jordan Faison and Jaden Greathouse could be considered proven commodities. Juniors Micah Gilbert, Elijah Burress and Cam Williams currently project as rotation players rather than front line starters. Five freshmen have now arrived but only Kaydon Finley and Devin Fitzgerald appear ready to compete for playing time.

Keon Keeley, DE Alabama

Keeley was a long-time verbal commitment to Notre Dame during the 2023 recruiting cycle. He ultimately signed with Alabama, where he was a rotational player for two seasons after a redshirt freshman year. Keeley was a top five national recruit whose production has yet to match his potential. He elevated his play at the end of this past season and appears poised to break out. The Irish coaches are thrilled to have the 6’5″, 280 pound Keeley in the fold. Among his suitors were Ohio State, Oregon, Georgia, Tennessee, and LSU. He will join ends Bryce Young and Boubacar Traore to form an impressive rotation.

Francis Brewu, DT Pittsburgh

Brewu played his first two college seasons with the Panthers and started for them in 2025. He has been a very productive player and is a disruptive force on the interior. Brewu plays larger than his 6’2″ 280-pound frame due to his exceptional physical strength. He can also provide an effective pass rush from inside. Brewu is reunited with new Irish defensive line coach Charlie Partridge, who originally recruited him to Pitt. Notre Dame overcame interest from Ohio State, Indiana, and Tennessee to land him. Brewu has two years of eligibility remaining.

Tionne Gray, DT Oregon

Gray was the last player from the portal to sign with Notre Dame. The Saint Louis native is also the largest at 6’6″ and 336 pounds. Gray epitomizes the plus-sized nose tackle that the Irish have not had in over a decade. He and Brewu represent a well-matched tandem that answers the team’s most pressing need for 2026. Gray entered the portal late in the cycle and immediately targeted Notre Dame over interest from several top schools. His offer from the Irish may or may not have included a private wing in the South Dining Hall. Gray has three years of college eligibility remaining.

These three defensive line additions are critical to Notre Dame’s championship aspirations. Keeley replaces the departed Joshua Burnham at end. Brewu and Gray only partially fill an immense gap at tackle caused by graduations and Donovan Hinish’s medical retirement. Elijah Hughes was the only experienced returnee on the roster until this pair came aboard. Others such as Armel Mukam, Sean Sevillano, and Cole Mullins must make a leap forward this spring. Youngsters Davion Dixon and Chris Burgess must also continue to develop. Meanwhile, the program is waiting to hear whether Jason Onye’s request for a medical redshirt will be granted. A negative ruling by the NCAA would be devastating news for Onye and the Irish. Update: The NCAA granted Onye’s request. He will return to the Irish in 2026.

Spencer Porath, Kicker Purdue

Porath converted 88% of his field goal attempts this past season. That is a far sight better than the Irish have been able to accomplish in recent seasons. A reliable kicker was without a doubt one of Notre Dame’s most urgent needs heading into the offseason. Porath’s longest field goal as a freshman in 2024 was 45 yards. Last season, he increased his range to 53 yards while maintaining accuracy. The Indiana native has two years of eligibility remaining.

Many fans expected the Irish to pursue another quarterback, running back, and tight end during this cycle. Coach Freeman and the staff elected not to do so after careful consideration of their options. Frankly, no highly regarded quarterback in the portal was willing to come in and be a backup to CJ Carr.

As for running back, the Irish surveyed the landscape and determined the price tag for a top tailback was too high. Aneyas Williams returns in 2026 along with Kedren Young and Nolan James. Another back would not be a bad idea except that Notre Dame has two outstanding incoming freshmen. Both Javian Osborne and Jonaz Walton. I would not be surprised to see at least one of them make an impact this season.

Tight end is another position where one could argue for additional help. Cooper Flanagan missed all of 2025 with an Achilles injury but is now healthy. Ty Washington played well last season and is back for an encore. Jack Larsen is a capable receiver and the coaches are very high on rising sophomore James Flanigan. What may have convinced the staff to stand pat is three very talented incoming freshmen. Ian Premer, who reminds me of Kyle Rudolph, is the best of the group.

From a numbers standpoint, the Irish added eight in the portal while losing 14. Two of those – Kenny Minchey and Burnham – were painful losses. While Keeley replaced Burnham and possibly upgraded the position, Minchey’s loss adds risk to the 2026 season. Behind Carr, a capable backup solution must come from untested players. Rising sophomore Blake Hebert and freshmen Teddy Jarrard and Noah Grubbs will battle for the job this spring.

Other portal departures on defense are as follows: CBs Chance Tucker, Karson Hobbs, and Cree Thomas, Safeties Taebron Bennie-Powell, Jadon Blair, and Ben Minich, and LBs Bodie Kahoun, Preston Zinter, and Anthony Sacca. On offense, the team lost RB Gibran Payne, and WRs KK Smith and Scrap Richardson. None expected to play a significant role for the Irish in 2026. All of them understandably left to seek playing time elsewhere.

One aspect of the program’s portal dealings should not go unnoticed. In the past, Notre Dame rarely accepted undergraduate transfers due to their strict academic requirements. This season, seven of the eight incoming transfers fit that category. That is such a significant departure from prior policy that only one explanation makes sense. Consider Coach Freeman’s flirtation with the NFL and his extended contract extension talks with Notre Dame. Combine that with the playoff snub and the program’s delayed entry into serious portal activity.

My conclusion is Freeman negotiated a loosening of the undergrad transfer academic acceptance requirements with the administration. Not every Irish alumnus or fan would be pleased if this were indeed the case. In truth, no one can be pleased with what college football has become. That is a discussion for a different day, though. Meanwhile, teams must be in it to win or they might as well not play. If Freeman used his considerable leverage to force Notre Dame’s hand in this matter, then so be it. Would he have left for the NFL if things did not work out in his favor? Maybe.

In any case, Notre Dame has addressed its critical needs by signing high quality athletes in the transfer portal. Competition for top players was fierce but the Irish remained patient. They ultimately made successful offers for the players they truly wanted and needed. By my count, Notre Dame currently has 99 scholarship players heading into the spring. If Onye is allowed to return, it will be an even hundred. That leaves five slots for walk-ons or non-scholarship contributors. Competition for playing time will be fierce, and that is exactly how the staff wants it.