2026 ND Portal Targets

Irish8248

Irish8248

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ndfanatic78 said:
Weren’t dudes pissing themselves just 24 hours ago bitching how ND had screwed up the portal and all these losses to teams like IU were an embarrassing look for the school. Maybe you guys should have some patience and not listen to a bunch of talking heads whose jobs are literally to envoke an emotional reaction driving up views and user interactions. Trust in the process and the coaches who have proven to at the very least have a good game plan for building a roster of players that fit their culture. Go Irish! In Freeman we trust!
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Saaaay what? No... What are you talking about
 
Crazy Balki

Crazy Balki

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Porter and Graham have crazy high upside. They are prime Jameson Williams material. Guys who left the logjam of Columbus and flourished.
 
InKellyWeTrust

InKellyWeTrust

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This is as close to a 'roll the ball out' kind of roster I've ever seen at ND. They could get out-coached or out-schemed at some point next year, but it will be hard for any team to out-talent this fully healthy roster.
 
FU BK

FU BK

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Would of been so fitting for this year if the waterboy entered the transfer portal. Quick get Bobby Bouche on the phone
 
IrishLax

IrishLax

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InKellyWeTrust said:
This is as close to a 'roll the ball out' kind of roster I've ever seen at ND. They could get out-coached or out-schemed at some point next year, but it will be hard for any team to out-talent this fully healthy roster.
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Let's talk best case scenario:
-Young and Traore better than last year
-Keeley inside pass rusher on 3rd down and otherwise starter quality DE
-Add two more good DTs so you don't suck at that position
-LBs are good
-DBs elite
-Return basically 9 starters on defense with DL upgrades. That unit was top ten by the end of the season.

-OL will be breaking in new starters but probably has at least 3x guys that will get drafted
-RB is fine but a downgrade.
-WR is a potentially massive upgrade.
-TE is probably a downgrade.
-QB is a first round draft pick.

So I think the only question mark is if the OL plays well enough to keep CJ clean and if we stay healthy. But the defense is easily top 5 on paper.
 
FU BK

FU BK

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IrishLax said:
Let's talk best case scenario:
-Young and Traore better than last year
-Keeley inside pass rusher on 3rd down and otherwise starter quality DE
-Add two more good DTs so you don't suck at that position
-LBs are good
-DBs elite
-Return basically 9 starters on defense with DL upgrades. That unit was top ten by the end of the season.

-OL will be breaking in new starters but probably has at least 3x guys that will get drafted
-RB is fine but a downgrade.
-WR is a potentially massive upgrade.
-TE is probably a downgrade.
-QB is a first round draft pick.

So I think the only question mark is if the OL plays well enough to keep CJ clean and if we stay healthy. But the defense is easily top 5 on paper.
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Stop it....my wife already thinks she's on a camping trip sleeping in a tent tonight since I have to lay on my back
 
IrishLax

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What is Porter's upside? Drake London? Doesn't seem like a super smooth athlete but is a better route runner than I would've thought, pretty agile for his size, and is crazy athletic.
 
FU BK

FU BK

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IrishLax said:
What is Porter's upside? Drake London? Doesn't seem like a super smooth athlete but is a better route runner than I would've thought, pretty agile for his size, and is crazy athletic.
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I just hope he has better hands than Merriweather
 
A

arrowryan

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IrishLax said:
Let's talk best case scenario:
-Young and Traore better than last year
-Keeley inside pass rusher on 3rd down and otherwise starter quality DE
-Add two more good DTs so you don't suck at that position
-LBs are good
-DBs elite
-Return basically 9 starters on defense with DL upgrades. That unit was top ten by the end of the season.

-OL will be breaking in new starters but probably has at least 3x guys that will get drafted
-RB is fine but a downgrade.
-WR is a potentially massive upgrade.
-TE is probably a downgrade.
-QB is a first round draft pick.

So I think the only question mark is if the OL plays well enough to keep CJ clean and if we stay healthy. But the defense is easily top 5 on paper.
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I’d agree with all that, except at TE. At worse, it’ll probably be the same.
 
IRISHbluehen

IRISHbluehen

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arrowryan said:
I’d agree with all that, except at TE. At worse, it’ll probably be the same.
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2 TDs on the season and we get better scoring production from the position group than last year. Eli was definitely a weapon at times though
 
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arrowryan

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IRISHbluehen said:
2 TDs on the season and we get better scoring production from the position group than last year. Eli was definitely a weapon at times though
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I thought he was okay. I don’t think it’ll be tough to replace his production and it’s not like he was some uber athletic specimen (thanks to injuries). The TE room should be pretty solid in 2026.
 
B

BrooklynDomer

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IrishLax said:
Let's talk best case scenario:
-Young and Traore better than last year
-Keeley inside pass rusher on 3rd down and otherwise starter quality DE
-Add two more good DTs so you don't suck at that position
-LBs are good
-DBs elite
-Return basically 9 starters on defense with DL upgrades. That unit was top ten by the end of the season.

-OL will be breaking in new starters but probably has at least 3x guys that will get drafted
-RB is fine but a downgrade.
-WR is a potentially massive upgrade.
-TE is probably a downgrade.
-QB is a first round draft pick.

So I think the only question mark is if the OL plays well enough to keep CJ clean and if we stay healthy. But the defense is easily top 5 on paper.
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I would argue the LBs are better than good. KVA is returning from injury and may need time, but Sneed, Bowen, Ausberry and a year 2 Faraimo is pretty stellar. And I think Dunham will be too good to keep off the field, at least rushing the passer. If we land Brewu and either get Onye back or get a run stuffer like Gray, I think the defense has a chance to be elite throughout. Especially now with depth throughout the secondary, keeping everyone fresh.
 
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