2026 ND Portal Targets

[BleedBlueGold]

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.

100%

Feel like I made this exact point yesterday. Maybe I forgot to hit enter, who knows. But yes, OL and DL need age, development, experience. I'm all in favor of high level recruiting and development. It's a must. Esp as Lax pointed out that OL and DL are hard to come by in the portal and even harder for ND to land. Recruiting misses will happen. Transfers will happen. But ND needs to be fully prepared to "enhance" their roster at these positions ever year and not bank on "next man in" if that young guy is unproven and underdeveloped. It's a recipe for missing the playoffs.

 

[CanadalovesND]

Keon Keeley back in the mix?

From Bama On3

Bama is pushing to get him back. James Smith transferring out really puts a need to get Keeley to return.

 

[Dale]

Visiting per II

Return of the King

 

[RudyVerse]

Visiting per II

Does one's twitter "followers" show in order of most recent? If so, last two are Loy and Daryk Bowen.

 

[FireJeffQuinn]

Visiting per II

A Cormac Ryan esque redemption arc (without the ending).

 

[IrishLax]

From Bama On3

Bama is pushing to get him back. James Smith transferring out really puts a need to get Keeley to return.

Bama is such a clown program lmao... like they do a shit job of developing him, shit job of utilizing him, and then they lose someone else and are like "oh just kidding Keon come back and we will use you correctly."

To be fair to him, he committed to Saban not whatever this Charmin soft clown show is.

 

[rtrn2glory]

Dude needs a change of scenery for sure. Hopefully we end up being that change

 

[arndtjc]

Visiting per II

 

[BoredIrish]

Visiting per II

If it doesnt work out this time, there really needs to be a permaban or something.

 

[RudyVerse]

If it doesnt work out this time, there really needs to be a permaban or something.

For what it's worth, I'm not seeing that reported at ISD or twitter, and Matt Freeman was very close to Keeley during his recruitment. Maybe their update is coming.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

Regardless of his destination at least the guys at The Bama Standard aren't happy he's gone.

 

[GrangerIrish24]

So if thing

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

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

 

[CanadalovesND]

Singer is saying that the Ibirogba visit is NOT back on. At least, it's not scheduled.

 

[IrishInOntario]

Glad to see that they're at least trying to get a visit out of Keeley. I have no idea if ND is going to land him, but thry just need to get as many quality DL targets as possible in to see who Patridge wants and who they can afford.

 

[allenm5333]

Singer is saying that the Ibirogba visit is NOT back on. At least, it's not scheduled.

Would rather get pitt and penn state DTs

 

[Crazy Balki]

Bama is such a clown program lmao... like they do a shit job of developing him, shit job of utilizing him, and then they lose someone else and are like "oh just kidding Keon come back and we will use you correctly."

To be fair to him, he committed to Saban not whatever this Charmin soft clown show is.

I don't think Saban deserves fairness in regards to Keon. Saban ALSO didn't utilize him correctly. Dude was 6'5 and close to 280, and it was evident that he was going to be either a big end or DT. What does Saban do? Has him drop 40 pounds and puts him at OLB. Bruh...

 

[notredomer23]

Singer is saying that the Ibirogba visit is NOT back on. At least, it's not scheduled.

ET Confirms Tech had another push and may have gotten it over the goalline. TBD

 

[RudyVerse]

Last thing ISD said on Keeley was that USC was in the lead at the time.

 

[CanadalovesND]

Last thing ISD said on Keeley was that USC was in the lead at the time.

Was that the initial update three days ago?

 

[RudyVerse]

Was that the initial update three days ago?

Yesterday morning. I haven't seen an ISD staffer say anything on Keeley since.

https://irishsportsdaily.com/forums/1/topics/112953

 

[sfk324]

Would rather get pitt and penn state DTs

I don't understand the infatuation with Ibirogba, who was the second best DT on his own team. 6'3 295 isn't meaningfully different than 6'2 280. People seem to be getting sucked in by the transfer portal rankings instead of production. If someone wants to overpay for Ibirogba, fine by me if it isn't ND.

 

[arndtjc]

Singer is saying that the Ibirogba visit is NOT back on. At least, it's not scheduled.

 

[FU BK]

I don’t think it’s worth worrying about the portal until it closes. It’s been open 5 days and there are still tons of talented players entering, and there will be more.

Dammit....why you have to use reasoning. Amazon is appreciating the rubber sheets and depends sales

 

[PolishDomer]

 

[WildMan1]

Last time I felt like this I was obsessed with Deontay Grennberry & his deaf cornerback cousin Tee.

One ended up in Houston & the other lasted about 5 minutes on campus 😂

 

[ozzman]

Last time I felt like this I was obsessed with Deontay Grennberry & his deaf cornerback cousin Tee
One ended up in Houston & the other lasted about 5 minutes on campus 😂

But he was really good at ladder drills for those 5 minutes on campus

 

[FU BK]

Last time I felt like this I was obsessed with Deontay Grennberry & his deaf cornerback cousin Tee.

One ended up in Houston & the other lasted about 5 minutes on campus 😂

That was a trip....just started following recruiting around that time

 

[ColinKSU]

Last time I felt like this I was obsessed with Deontay Grennberry & his deaf cornerback cousin Tee.

One ended up in Houston & the other lasted about 5 minutes on campus 😂

🔫🔫

 

[CanadalovesND]

I don't think Saban deserves fairness in regards to Keon. Saban ALSO didn't utilize him correctly. Dude was 6'5 and close to 280, and it was evident that he was going to be either a big end or DT. What does Saban do? Has him drop 40 pounds and puts him at OLB. Bruh...

Keeley came in to Bama at 245. He played as an OLB as a true freshman, then moved to their Bandit position as he put on weight.

Keeley never dropped 40 pounds, he gained it.

 

[IrishLax]

Prister is dramatic and bedwetting a bit but damn if he can't get me fired up with his writing still

When the Walls Come Tumbling Down

Since the CFP’s decision to exclude Notre Dame, little has gone right. A disjointed December in which distractions from diatribes about business partnerships, Marcus Freeman’s contract/future, and an ill-fated opening to the transfer portal has put the Irish in scramble mode.

247sports.com

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