2026 ND Portal Targets

[Dale]

I believe we’ve tried this in the past. Place for confirmed targets.

Alabama State QB Andrew Body
Wisconsin OG Joe Brunner
Oregon DT Tionne Gray

Signed
Ohio State WR Quincy Porter
Ohio State WR Mylan Graham
Alabama DE Keon Keeley
Pitt DT Francis Brewu
Michigan CB Jayden Sanders
Colorado CB DJ McKinney

Mercer QB Braden Atkinson - Committed to Oregon State
Michigan State WR Nick Marsh - Committed to IU
Iowa State WR Xavier Townsend - Committed to Purdue
Rutgers WR Ian Strong - Committed to Cal
Tulsa TE Brody Foley - Committed to Louisville
Utah DE John Henry Daley - Committed to Michigan
Penn State DE Chaz Coleman - Committed to Tennessee
Michigan State DE Jalen Thompson - Committed to Arizona State
Alabama DE Qua Russaw - Committed to OSU
UCF DT Horace Lockett - Withdrawn from Portal
Utah DT Jonah Lea’ea - Committed to Michigan
Alabama DT James Smith - Committed to OSU
NMSU DT Ezra Christensen - Committed to Colorado
Wake Forest DT Mateen Ibirogba - Committed to Texas Tech
Penn State DT Xavier Gilliam - Committed to Tennessee
Iowa State CB Jontez Williams - Committed to USC
Utah DB Smith Snowden - Committed to Michigan
App State K Dominic De Freitas - Committed to North Texas

 

[Dale]

ND mentioned for PSU DL Xavier Gilliam by Pete Nakos

Transfer Portal Intel: Day 1 brings early QB moves, visit schedules

On3 has the latest intel on where over 40 of the top transfers could land and their official visit schedules.

www.on3.com

A good list of some of the top entries to the portal and who's in the mix for them. Nothing surprising for ND. Marsh mentioned with LSU in the mix and Gilliam from Penn St. IU, Oklahoma, Missouri, A&M, and LSU mentioned for Gilliam as well.

Notre Dame set to host former All-Big 12 defensive back transfer

Notre Dame is set to host a former All-Big 12 defensive back as the Fighting Irish look to retool their secondary for 2026.

www.on3.com

Jontez Williams - Football - Iowa State Athletics

Jontez Williams (3) Defensive Back - Awards & Honors Second Team All-Big 12 DB - Coaches (2024) Academic All-Big 12 First Team (2023) Big 12 Commissioner's H...

cyclones.com

Former Iowa St CB Jontez Williams

All Big-12 second team in '24, played in only five games in '25 due to injury.

The article does not give a date for his visit, but rather "near future"

Michigan State WR Nick Marsh sets first two transfer portal visits: Top 25 player to see Indiana, Notre Dame

Michigan State WR Nick Marsh sets first two transfer portal visits: Top 25 player to see Indiana, Notre Dame

247sports.com

This says he's at IU first and then ND.

^

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Will be interested to see who ND targets as a backup QB transfer. We’ve all heard they’ll look at the Ivy League, FCS & G5. I‘m more curious to see if they prefer a certain style QB. In other words, should they have to utilize the backup would it behoove them to go after a dual threat? That would at least give the offense a change of pace vs the defense who hadn’t game planned for a mobile QB. Just a thought. I know beggars can’t be choosers.

 

[IrishFanForever23]

Williams visiting USC and Florida along with ND

 

[Dale]

Maybe it changes by tommorow, but USC doesn’t have a DC as of today

 

[mhunter123]

Williams visiting USC and Florida along with ND

ND the only school with the extended visit, oh yeah!!

 

[Dale]

3 day visit? Same day as Marsh?

Hmm.

 

[NDWarrior]

Does anyone think the staff has any serious interest in Devan Thompkins, USC DL?

This click-bait article is actually that ND should pursue him, but a lot of media outlets picked up on the headline and rehashed it, but I don't see anything real going on here.

Notre Dame targeting a top USC DL transfer would send a message to old rival

Maybe he follow Lynn to PSU?

 

[IrishFanForever23]

Showdown!!!!

 

[NDMatt91]

Does anyone think the staff has any serious interest in Devan Thompkins, USC DL?

This click-bait article is actually that ND should pursue him, but a lot of media outlets picked up on the headline and rehashed it, but I don't see anything real going on here.

Notre Dame targeting a top USC DL transfer would send a message to old rival

Maybe he follow Lynn to PSU?

He looks a lot lighter than what he's listed at, which concerns me. Jamie from ISD has the same concern.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Iowa St kid a nickel a corner or both?

Man if the money is right you'd think any corner would be a fool to not want to play for Mickens

 

[Dale]

Iowa St kid a nickel a corner or both?

Man if the money is right you'd think any corner would be a fool to not want to play for Mickens

Both but strikes me as nickel first. 5’11 200 and in a scheme foreign to ND completely who won’t be in spring ball doesn’t seem like someone you bring in at outside CB.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Both but strikes me as nickel first. 5’11 200 and in a scheme foreign to ND completely who won’t be in spring ball doesn’t seem like someone you bring in at outside CB.

That's my thoughts....with his size that screams nickel to me. Unless you're a freak 5'11 200 pounds is a big dude and prolly not a speed guy you can put on the outside

 

[tirishman505]

I don't care where he plays. Can he man up Malachi Toney in November? If that's a yes we move mountains to get him IMO.

 

[rtrn2glory]

I don't care where he plays. Can he man up Malachi Toney in November? If that's a yes we move mountains to get him IMO.

Leonard Moore can and will be doing that no worries

 

[IrishInOntario]

Iowa St kid a nickel a corner or both?

Man if the money is right you'd think any corner would be a fool to not want to play for Mickens

He's a nickel and will be recruited as such. He can also bump out the corner if you run into injuries.

 

[tirishman505]

No doubt, but along with our recent run of amazing lockdown corners we've been on a run of those corners getting hurt.

 

[IRISHbluehen]

 

[Rocketman84]

Can he bring Chaz Coleman with him? 🙌

 

[sfk324]

Showdown!!!!

Guy who pays Elon for a blue check mark with no history or sources, or guy with proven track record. Who should I believe??

 

[Huntr]

Dad settled it.

 

[NDWarrior]

Sounds like Smothers wants way more than ND is willing to pay (in but maybe also in playing time?).

 

[Irish Man3]

If he has watched that Alabama offense the last month as a RB and he’s enticed by what he’s seen, he’s not smart enough to attend ND on any level

 

[MrNimbus]

Sounds like Smothers wants way more than ND is willing to pay (in but maybe also in playing time?).

I just don't see the fit right now regardless of what he wants. We have other holes to fill first.

 

[Dale]

I cannot unhear Doeren talking about how athletic ND is and his example being Bowen running stride for stride with Smothers

 

[slick7410]

Can he bring Chaz Coleman with him? 🙌

Serious question: What’s up with Chaz Coleman? Decently ranked player top 250ish, not really any production as a Fr.

I’ve seen him listed as a very top player available and raved about (by everyone), what did I miss?

 

[NDMatt91]

Serious question: What’s up with Chaz Coleman? Decently ranked player top 250ish, not really any production as a Fr.

I’ve seen him listed as a very top player available and raved about (by everyone), what did I miss?

He's a really good athlete so my guess is 247 and ON3 are banking on his high potential.

 

[Dale]

Ibirogba Fong’d to Texas Tech

 

[IrishInOntario]

Ibirogba Fong’d to Texas Tech

They're certainly not afraid to pay a big price to get their guy.

 

[SDIrishFan]

Ibirogba Fong’d to Texas Tech

Well that’s a kick in the nuts.