2026 ND Portal Targets

[RudyVerse]

Guys we wrecked them.

 

[PANDFAN]

I'm not always a "trust the staff" guy, but I think ND is pretty savvy in the business world and I highly doubt that they didn't have all of their ducks in a row before the portal opened.

Nevertheless, there are parts of any deal with 19-22 yos that can fall through--and competitors can jump in and make unexpected moves--so pivoting would have always needed to be part of the plan.

my whole thing is there is sooo much behind the scene stuff the beat isn't privy too...and ND isn't just throwing money out there to see what sticks. Trust the have back up plans for their backup plans. This staff is legit and not just the actual football coaches... It is also very intentional to not leak info until it's done...it's a tough sell for our academics and not everyone is willing and we are very very competitive w/ our offers but also we aren't doing ridiculous stuff either which is why there isn't much movement from our guys except to get more playing time.

 

[irishfan]

Do we still need another body at DE? Feel good about Traore, Young, Keeley but seems like we’re asking a lot out of Loghan Thomas and Dunham along with just hoping for health at the position in general. Is there another DE I’m forgetting about who can realistically play this year? This is assuming Burgess is moving inside.

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

Guys we wrecked them.

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

Nope. Gray is visiting tomorrow, and he's probably the last guy added to the portal class barring any huge surprises

It is gonna be a looooooonnnnnngggggg offseason.

 

[RudyVerse]

There's a lot of confidence on Gray on here. Is anyone hearing anything? ISD said he'll be visiting someone else Friday (unsure who).

 

[Irish du Nord]

Guys we wrecked them.

0% chance that’s real, right? Gotta be a Michigan troll

 

[Irish#1]

SIAP. On3 said Mizzou wanted to get Gray in for a visit but he chose to go to ND first

Why would you want to play for a natty at ND, when you can play in the SEC where it just means more?

 

[Dale]

SIAP. On3 said Mizzou wanted to get Gray in for a visit but he chose to go to ND first

Missouri 247:

“I will be a little surprised if Gray takes a 2nd visit”

It's pretty apparent who's out front here. I'm not saying it's done, but I think you have to expect he signs with ND on Thursday and never makes that other trip”

 

[irish2104]

ISD and other sites seem pretty confident

 

[GrangerIrish24]

Missouri 247:

“I will be a little surprised if Gray takes a 2nd visit”

It's pretty apparent who's out front here. I'm not saying it's done, but I think you have to expect he signs with ND on Thursday and never makes that other trip”

some of the "insiders" on 247 have talked about enough in way that comes off as its done and he just needs to sign.

 

[Irish#1]

They have it. We don't. Same can probably be said for intelligence. They know. The beat and the fans do not.

I'm completely fine with them keeping a tight ship and not letting things get out. This Purdue kicker has supposedly been on campus and attending classes? How they kept that locked down is beyond me, but it's awesome if it's true.

Let these guys play chess while the beat is playing checkers and the fans are playing with their food.

Pretty simple. Nobody ever notices the kicker until they miss one.

 

[Cpnd1]

Unbelievable, what a job by the staff

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

SO
Are we getting greedy for Justice Haynes?

 

[NDpendent]

SO
Are we getting greedy for Justice Haynes?

Sunday night I would have said no chance but after the last 48 hours...

 

[IrishFanForever23]

They know what they are doing. Our new DL coach chose ND over two other national power programs in part because he said they are so well run from top to bottom like an NFL franchise.

Who were the other two programs after him?

 

[GoldenAura]

Found Putup’s reddit account lol

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

Missouri 247:

“I will be a little surprised if Gray takes a 2nd visit”

It's pretty apparent who's out front here. I'm not saying it's done, but I think you have to expect he signs with ND on Thursday and never makes that other trip”

Not to be to much of a dork but what is Gray's first name?

 

[IrishinSyria]

I will concede there was one obvious mistake: the McKinney announcement. That seems to have been a communication breakdown at some level.

Everything else it’s impossible to know whether the staff played it perfectly and our targets just wanted more than we were willing to offer or if we could have done things better. As it turns out, I’m inclined to give them a substantial benefit of the doubt.

 

[notredomer23]

SO
Are we getting greedy for Justice Haynes?

Has there actually been smoke there or ND fans are just wishcasting? I keep seeing posts on Haynes. I thought he was a sure thing for Georgia Tech

 

[Rockin’Irish]

Not to be to much of a dork but what is Gray's first name?

Tionne

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

Tionne

Cool, thank you.

 

[ozzman]

I'd put it at 95% chance he's busting my chops and trolling me. But 5% based on Seider tweet, and the fact he brought up KK which was years ago and a weird thing to just randomly know. Also, he told me yesterday he would be announcing...and then nothing which also kinda fits the ND mode of operation.

@Kingbish01 any further insight or should we put this one to bed?

 

[Kingbish01]

SO
Are we getting greedy for Justice Haynes?

A mutual friend of ours (to unc) said that he thinks it will untimely be OSU, but ND is in the mix. He just doesn't feel like OSU will let ND win this battle especially with what's happened over the last week. Word is Tech offered the biggest bag, we've both heard between 2.5-3.5 but he would like to play for a contender. His uncle doesn't want to ruin his moment, nobody saw Mich happening after Bama...and they liked the surprise element for the fans. Again, just relaying TIFWIW

I guess Seider is a big big fan.

 

[LethalXander]

What are our thoughts on Chris Ash next year? I know he coached well towards the end, I just hate his track record.

 

[The Backer]

Missouri 247:

“I will be a little surprised if Gray takes a 2nd visit”

It's pretty apparent who's out front here. I'm not saying it's done, but I think you have to expect he signs with ND on Thursday and never makes that other trip”

Just to set expectations, my guess is Gray won't take a second visit but you won't hear an official commitment probably until 1/19 or 1/20.

 

[RudyVerse]

This Gray guy is ranking wise an update over Brewu, who is an upgrade over our 2025 starters.

I know it’s rankings and different positions, but we’ve been so hung up on Brewu just to get one in the door, and to think on paper this guy is even a bigger get at DT…

 

[Cpnd1]

Singer is saying that some other reporter believed that Gray was leaning Mizzou. But their team from On3 believe ND is clearly out in front.

 

[IrishinSyria]

What are our thoughts on Chris Ash next year? I know he coached well towards the end, I just hate his track record.

Our thoughts are a) weird thread for this, b) weird first post, and c) his defense is going to be so loaded with seasoned talent that he could coach blackout drunk and I’d expect it to do well but I’m fully expecting him to pick up where he left off with an elite d

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

This Gray guy is ranking wise an update over Brewu, who is an upgrade over our 2025 starters.

I know it’s rankings and different positions, but we’ve been so hung up on Brewu just to get one in the door, and to think on paper this guy is even a bigger get at DT…

Gray is ranked higher but they are VERY different prospects.