2026 ND Portal Targets

[IrishInOntario]

I really really hope this staff will make me eat crow and prove me wrong.

I just want them to win man. They’re so close.

They're going to bring in a very high upside Portal class man. It's up to the staff to see if they can develop them though, because they've chosen to go with a mix of production and potential, rather than paying top dollar for outright production across the board.

We're going to see if it's better to have 20 year olds with high end talent that needs to be developed, or 22-23 year olds with less talent, but who have maxed out their physical development and are auditioning for the NFL in their final seasons.

 

[calvegas04]

I really really hope this staff will make me eat crow and prove me wrong.

I just want them to win man. They’re so close.

Just turned 40, I need a NC in my life at some point

 

[IrishInOntario]

I feel like you are hogging all the copium from the rest of us.

No hopium required. They're going to land a couple guys. I can't tell you exactly who they are, but the staffs knows it's a position of weakness just like we do and this is their lone chance to fix it this year... They'll have multiple people working the back channels to find a couple guys.

 

[US_Highway14]

Porter and Graham are predicted to ND, and I believe strongly there's reason to think that Keon Keeley lands with them as well.

Tomorrow is gonna be such an unproductive day at work.

 

[IrishInOntario]

Just for a little context, rumors around OSU were that Porter was looking for a jump in salary from around $600K last year as a freshman, to approximately $1 million this year as a sophomore, despite barely playing.

If that's true, it's means ND was likely willing to pay something along those lines, which makes sense given that they were reportedly willing to pay Nick Marsh upwards of $2 million.

Maybe the staff just took the $2 million set aside for Marsh, divided it in half and offered $1 million to each of Porter and Graham. In doing so they went younger, and added high upside guys instead of proven players, but were able to add 2 instead of 1.

Just a thought... The following wouldn't shock me at all if ND actually smartened up and decided to spend as required:

WR: $1.0 million
WR: $1.0 million
DT: $1.5 million
DT: $1.5 million
NB: $800K
CB: 750K
DE: 750K
QB: 500K
K: 300K

Total: $8.1 million

 

[TorontoGold]

Do those that spammed “college football is dead! Money! Bad!” get to enjoy the transfers of two former 5 star WR’s? - I’m extremely petty

(I guess it is a change from “how money players pay taxes on money, IRS know?”)

 

[NDWarrior]

They're going to bring in a very high upside Portal class man. It's up to the staff to see if they can develop them though, because they've chosen to go with a mix of production and potential, rather than paying top dollar for outright production across the board.

We're going to see if it's better to have 20 year olds with high end talent that needs to be developed, or 22-23 year olds with less talent, but who have maxed out their physical development and are auditioning for the NFL in their final seasons.

I would say this TP period, I don't think the staff had much option; for the fit reasons you and I outlined (both said about the same thing), most of the high production guys wanted the high-paying AND easy path (no education/admissions constraints) vs. coming to ND.

So rightly so, I would say as the high potential, lower production underclass guys became available, they broadened their net (as they should have) but still entertained guys who based on their own scouting efforts, what they saw on film, and these young buck's measurables, are solid risks that are very likely to payoff in 2026.

That's my humble opinion anyway.

 

[EvilleIrish]

Not to be a wet blanket but Loy just said he thinks there’s a decent shot Graham goes back to OSU.

 

[IrishInOntario]

I would say this TP period, I don't think the staff had much option; for the fit reasons you and I outlined (both said about the same thing), most of the high production guys wanted the high-paying AND easy path (no education/admissions constraints) vs. coming to ND.

So rightly so, I would say as the high potential, lower production underclass guys became available, they broadened their net (as they should have) but still entertained guys who based on their own scouting efforts, what they saw on film, and these young buck's measurables, who they feel are solid risks that are very likely to payoff in 2026.

That's my humble opinion anyway.

Agreed. I also think that if you're looking for young guys that you project to "plug-n-play" you look for 2 things.

1). Guys that you have a previous relationship with and had a strong evaluation of in recruiting. Ideally a kid who visited you as a recruit and who you got a strong feel for as a player and a person. Both Quincy Porter a d Mylan Graham fit that description.

2). Guys that you suspect were coached at high level at their previous spot, so that you know that despite being young, they're likely ready to jump in and compete for playing time right away, as you continue to develop them. Brian Hartlinr coached WRs would fit that bill.

I'll be curious to see what the rumored surgical produce that Quincy Porter needs is, and if that will cost him his spring ball at all?

 

[SWirishfan]

Graham/Porter would be a massive offensive pull!

Give me Brewu, Keeley, another DT, Snowden, McKinney a kicker & this portal is a home run.

You should have remembered to put all this in your letter to Santa.

 

[IrishFanForever23]

Yeah, Loy thinks he ends up back with OSU. Also said look for a new name tomorrow if all goes well. Didn’t say what position though.

 

[IrishInOntario]

Not to be a wet blanket but Loy just said he thinks there’s a decent shot Graham goes back to OSU.

Yeah, that's a real possibility. They don't want to lose all of their depth behind Smith and Iniss and Graham has legit chance to be in their top 4 this year.... Academics are still still a concern as well. Remember that he couldn't qualify for ND out of high school. It would be a big change for him.

I guess we'll wait and see!

 

[NDMatt91]

Not to be a wet blanket but Loy just said he thinks there’s a decent shot Graham goes back to OSU.

Any word on Kicker or Defensive Tackle?

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

Not to be a wet blanket but Loy just said he thinks there’s a decent shot Graham goes back to OSU.

Do you seek out negative articles or tweets about ND?

 

[EvilleIrish]

Any word on Kicker or Defensive Tackle?

Update sounded like Brewu and the Bama DT were probably toss ups.

 

[jprue24]

Do you seek out negative articles or tweets about ND?

You really think paying attention to Tom Loy during the transfer portal is seeking out negative information?

 

[NavygoldandIHATEUSC]

So realistically who do we get ? I haven’t been on my phone for days.

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

You really think paying attention to Tom Loy during the transfer portal is seeking out negative information?

No, but the póster is well known for being an individual who post nothing but negative

 

[RudyVerse]

Absolutely hate losing Graham, the answer is always both, but Quincy is the bigger need and also a year younger.

We need to steal Brewu. This line backing crew which chose to come back and may be the most talented line backing crew we ever see, deserves some big uglies in front of them. Absolutely need Keeley and Brewu tomorrow, and hopefully another serviceable DT.

 

[irishff1014]

Just for a little context, rumors around OSU were that Porter was looking for a jump in salary from around $600K last year as a freshman, to approximately $1 million this year as a sophomore, despite barely playing.

If that's true, it's means ND was likely willing to pay something along those lines, which makes sense given that they were reportedly willing to pay Nick Marsh upwards of $2 million.

Maybe the staff just took the $2 million set aside for Marsh, divided it in half and offered $1 million to each of Porter and Graham. In doing so they went younger, and added high upside guys instead of proven players, but were able to add 2 instead of 1.

Just a thought... The following wouldn't shock me at all if ND actually smartened up and decided to spend as required:

WR: $1.0 million
WR: $1.0 million
DT: $1.5 million
DT: $1.5 million
NB: $800K
CB: 750K
DE: 750K
QB: 500K
K: 300K

Total: $8.1 million

Porter had 4 catches. What makes that worth a 400k raise. Get out of here.

 

[peadeam]

Over... By time it's all said and done I'm going to say...

1-2x WR
1x CB
1x NB
2x DT
1x DE
1x K
1x QB

I'll throw 8 out there as the number. If they can't find 2 WRs that they really like, I'll go with 7...

Hopefully, they're willing to spend $10'ish million in portal money, because that's what you might be looking at to land 8 guys... Unless you save money by bringing in some potential types that have not yet produced at a high level college. TBD.

The other thing to consider is that prices might actually start to come down over the course of this week, as the aggressive portal teams exhaust their budgets and most of the big names come off the board. You might start to see a market reversal (positionally dependent) in some cases.

That’s a great point I hadn’t thought of. Guys will be scurrying for deck chairs at some point. I wonder how many guys are left without a team in the end? Or do they just go down a level if they don’t attract interest like their agents say they will.

 

[irishff1014]

Singer replied to Wiltfong, that today is going to be a bad day for the bed wetters.

 

[KPENN]

 

[arrowryan]

Absolutely hate losing Graham, the answer is always both, but Quincy is the bigger need and also a year younger.

We need to steal Brewu. This line backing crew which chose to come back and may be the most talented line backing crew we ever see, deserves some big uglies in front of them. Absolutely need Keeley and Brewu tomorrow, and hopefully another serviceable DT.

Are we about to have a source off between Loy and Wiltfong?

 

[RudyVerse]

Are we about to have a source off between Loy and Wiltfong?

I trust both but didn’t Fong have his Graham CB in a couple days ago? If Loys comment above is true, it seems the most recent data point and probably trumps Fongs. But hopefully it’s unsettled and we complete the coup.

 

[Ricochet]

Porter had 4 catches. What makes that worth a 400k raise. Get out of here.

Supply & Demand. The kid is a stud, ND wanted him bad out if HS and if he went just about anywhere else other than tOSU and get stuck behind the best WR in college we would have seen him live up to his ranking.

 

[FU BK]

I want Graham if for nothing more, keeping the footprint in the Fort Wayne area. Seems like most of the players that have come from here have hit and been productive players in their career

 

[arrowryan]

I trust both but didn’t Fong have his Graham CB in a couple days ago? If Loys comment above is true, it seems the most recent data point and probably trumps Fongs. But hopefully it’s unsettled and we complete the coup.

I believe so. I’d be happy with one of them, but “both” is always the answer.

 

[DillonHall]

I want Graham if for nothing more, keeping the footprint in the Fort Wayne area. Seems like most of the players that have come from here have hit and been productive players in their career

Definitely a high hit rate for in-state kids for whatever reason

 

[notredomer23]

Loy is pretty connected in Fort Wayne. I’d take his word for it that he’s not coming short of something drastic changing.

Porter is your starting boundary. I’m stunned they may get him based off what I heard locally. Graham was not starting over Greathouse or Faison, but of course both have an injury history. That said, ND doesn’t have anyone like Porter, whereas they have a bunch of Grahams, even if hypothetically he’s the most talented. Call that copium, but it’s true.