2026 ND Portal Targets

[arrowryan]

They have to feel really good about Gilbert then?

I think us fans forget about Gilbert, or at least push him off to the side. He hasn’t had the best injury luck. But let’s not forget he was playing very meaningful snaps against Miami. The staff obviously trusts him.

 

[rtrn2glory]

i think fields missing the spring had a impact early on in the season. he was what we expected him to be about half way thru the season. Not sure if that would have happened sooner had he been here in the spring, but i think it would've helped.

 

[IrishLax]

Swear to goodness I’m not creepin but I just saw one of our VIPs head into the stadium for a tour. Fairly certain it was Gilliam and parents.

Sorry I don’t have spicier intel lol

If we don't close the deal here it's your fault. Well, you and Granger.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Final Update RE Mateen Ibirogba

Final Update RE Mateen Ibirogba

247sports.com

Thomas/Brice says visit could be back on

 

[StPaul_Irish]

I think us fans forget about Gilbert, or at least push him off to the side. He hasn’t had the best injury luck. But let’s not forget he was playing very meaningful snaps against Miami. The staff obviously trusts him.

If this is the case, and it very well could be, I think Harris would be a fantastic choice to go with him.

 

[PolishDomer]

If you need a place to camp out without being seen, there is a set of shrubs on the west side of the practice facility I have been using.

Granger, come on!

 

[Me2SouthBend]

I followed Atkinson extensively this year as I'm a long-time friend of Beau Brungard's family. The only two FCS QB's I would even look at are Cole Payton and Beau. Beau is Riley Leonard with accuracy, but not the biggest NFL arm. Atkinson played a powder puff schedule at Mercer. His last two games against Auburn and South Dakota tell the real story (1td, 6 int).

New member I see. Any thoughts on the current starting Cornerbacks on the roster?

 

[NDPhilly]

WR is probably the deepest position in the portal. They should still grab a body. They aren’t all going to cost near $1m.

2026 College Football Transfer Portal Position Rankings

2026 College football Transfer Portal Position Rankings

247sports.com

 

[JD Irish]

I do not understand why we are not pursuing Reed Harris from BC.

 

[2013Irish]

I do not understand why we are not pursuing Reed Harris from BC.

It's possible we are and both parties are just keeping it quiet.

 

[NDPhilly]

I do not understand why we are not pursuing Reed Harris from BC.

Reed was followed by several ND staff members on X recently. Certainly is on the radar.

 

[GoldenAura]

If we don't close the deal here it's your fault. Well, you and Granger.

 

[Pete]

Back in the day, I used to be able to watch practice from a recumbent bike in ROLFs. Worked for the entire Weis era and at least the early part of the Kelly era.

I‘m surprised you didn’t fall off the bike watching a crappy Weis practice 😂

 

[IrishLax]

WR is probably the deepest position in the portal. They should still grab a body. They aren’t all going to cost near $1m.

2026 College Football Transfer Portal Position Rankings

2026 College football Transfer Portal Position Rankings

247sports.com

Every year it basically plays out like this, from most abundant talent to least abundant:
1. WR
2. QB
3. Pass Rusher
4. RB

<everything else>

9. DT
10. OL

The big uglies are the hardest to find in the portal and it isn't particularly close, mainly because there are so many more "skill" players that go under the radar out of high school relative to big dudes.

 

[GrangerIrish24]

You share that with Driskell?

Not in my shrubs! He's not vaccinated!

 

[Penick44@]

Defensive tackle isn't as starved as most think IMO. With Burgess moving inside apparently, depending on if he can hold 290-295lbs well. Burgess, Dixon, Golden, and Hola are a nice young quartet at the position. One, maybe two, will have to be ready to contribute some snaps. Mullins like Burgess, can be a sound contributor but will need to be 285-290. You add Gilliam and go get an immediate plug and play vet... and I think you're good, especially if Onye comes back. We need to upgrade the talent and size inside but it's not like replacing Hinish, Rubio, and Dawson is insurmountable.

Plus we just hired one of the best DLine coaches on the planet.

 

[GrangerIrish24]

If we don't close the deal here it's your fault. Well, you and Granger.

My close rate is second to none. 60% of the time it works every time.

 

[Dale]

Defensive tackle isn't as starved as most think IMO. With Burgess moving inside apparently, depending on if he can hold 290-295lbs well. Burgess, Dixon, Golden, and Hola are a nice young quartet at the position. One, maybe two, will have to be ready to contribute some snaps. Mullins like Burgess, can be a sound contributor but will need to be 285-290. You add Gilliam and go get an immediate plug and play vet... and I think you're good, especially if Onye comes back. We need to upgrade the talent and size inside but it's not like replacing Hinish, Rubio, and Dawson is insurmountable.

I think Burgess could be talented but I don’t like relying on youth at DT.

If you look at 2023 Michigan - 2024 OSU - 2025 Indiana/Miami, the DL averages 21/22 years of age, about 260 pounds on the edges and 310 on the interior.

Being young and undersized is unlikely to be the formula. A freak exception is fine (ex Mason Graham) definitely not the plan.

 

[Padomer9]

View attachment 3062058

sounds like someone needs to go to the train station....right Rip?

 

[NDdomer2]

So the trend across cfb is that guys aren't leaving their visits without signing.

Gilliam left Tennessee. Seems like it's clearly in our favor here.

 

[Irish#1]

Its so over
We’re so back

POY quality right there.

 

[NumbersGuy0520]

I was given a tiny bit of information. I’ll just say that I don’t think adding a portal WR is as high of a priority as we made it out to be.

Because we already know Jeremiah Smith will be ours?

 

[RudyVerse]

I was given a tiny bit of information. I’ll just say that I don’t think adding a portal WR is as high of a priority as we made it out to be.

Well that contradicts the bedwetting thread so you may want to check your sources.

 

[JamIrish]

I think Burgess could be talented but I don’t like relying on youth at DT.

If you look at 2023 Michigan - 2024 OSU - 2025 Indiana/Miami, the DL averages 21/22 years of age, about 260 pounds on the edges and 310 on the interior.

Being young and undersized is unlikely to be the formula. A freak exception is fine (ex Mason Graham) definitely not the plan.

Oh most definitely, I was referring more so to depth than starters. Not expecting underclassmen to start, just hopeful they can provide quality depth. I feel like in recent years we've had way too many "projects" along the dline, so we were heavily dependent on upperclassmen who took all the reps. I was just saying I think there are some young guys on the interior who can contribute now.

 

[Irish#1]

Swear to goodness I’m not creepin but I just saw one of our VIPs head into the stadium for a tour. Fairly certain it was Gilliam and parents.

Sorry I don’t have spicier intel lol

Please tell me it wasn't Granger leading the tour.

 

[ab2cmiller]

Please tell me it wasn't Granger leading the tour.

After Chad left, we needed someone to still dress up as an awkward Leprechaun

 

[Del_Griffith]

Keon Keeley back in the mix?

 

[Crazy Balki]

I think Burgess could be talented but I don’t like relying on youth at DT.

If you look at 2023 Michigan - 2024 OSU - 2025 Indiana/Miami, the DL averages 21/22 years of age, about 260 pounds on the edges and 310 on the interior.

Being young and undersized is unlikely to be the formula. A freak exception is fine (ex Mason Graham) definitely not the plan.

I mean, if Onye returns, and hypothetically should Burgess start, you'd effectively have a starting 4 of:

Traore (Senior)
Onye (6th year)
Burgess (Sophomore)
Young (Junior)

One underclassmen next to three upperclassmen, including a grad student is hardly super young. And not to mention, Burgess isn't undersized, if the reports from multiple reputable sources on other sites are to be believed. Some have Burgess just under 300 currently. Not saying any of this will happen, but I don't think Burgess playing as a sophomore makes or breaks the DL, because Burgess very much is a stud in the making.

 

[PolishDomer]

Keon Keeley back in the mix?

Just fanboy musings for now...have not seen anything about him visiting ND.

 

[Big23Head]

Keon Keeley back in the mix?

Visiting per II