2026 ND Portal Targets

rtrn2glory · Jan 5, 2026

Confirmed Jeremiah Smith has been on campus since Saturday

IrishInOntario · Jan 5, 2026

IrishTusker said:
I don't know why receivers would be allergic to ND, given our QB. Maybe the idea that ND was going to go on a spending spree was just fan hopium. I guess ND is back to being cheap?

Other than the fact that we haven't developed a really good one since Claypool, who flamed out early in his NFL career. ND isn't exactly the play that top WRs look to go. Even the class of 5 they're bringing in this year, despite it's depth, has nobody with Golden Tate or Michael Floyd level talent...

It's nothing to panic about, but WR has not been kind to ND over the last number of years. We've had a lot of average to slightly above average guys.

ThePiombino · Jan 5, 2026

2013Irish said:
Is missing Ian Strong really that big of a catastrophe to you all? No one on this board had heard of him prior to a week ago. Maybe they won't get another Malachi Fields, but they made the natty with Beaux Collins at the boundary.

No, but missing on Marsh AND string might be indicative of something bigger, which would be catastrophic.

IrishTusker · Jan 5, 2026

IrishInOntario said:
Other than the fact that we haven't developed a really good one since Claypool, who flamed out early in his NFL career. ND isn't exactly the play that top WRs look to go. Even the class of 5 they're bringing in this year, despite it's depth, has nobody with Golden Tate or Michael Floyd level talent...

It's nothing to panic about, but WR has not been kind to ND over the last number of years. We've had a lot of average to slightly above average guys.

Right, but these guys aren't going to OSU instead.

NDPhilly · Jan 5, 2026

mrmcgrail said:
Singer was saying he doesn't think ND was pushing very hard for strong. Thought maybe they have their eye on someone else and that nd has kept a pretty tight kid on what is happening with who's on campus or not

Hopium. Inject it right here.

FWIW pretty much every commitment was out of nowhere last year.

ThePiombino · Jan 5, 2026

rtrn2glory said:
Confirmed Jeremiah Smith has been on campus since Saturday

If so:

GATTACA! · Jan 5, 2026

IrishInOntario · Jan 5, 2026

2013Irish said:
Is missing Ian Strong really that big of a catastrophe to you all? No one on this board had heard of him prior to a week ago. Maybe they won't get another Malachi Fields, but they made the natty with Beaux Collins at the boundary.

I don't think anyone necessarily has a problem with losing out on Ian Strong. Really solid player, but nothing spectacular.

I think people are just annoyed that ND has CJ Carr and they can't seem to attract a boundary WR out of the portal and neither Micah Gilbert or Cam Williams have shown anything during their 2 years on campus that inspires confidence that they're ready to emerge as full time impact starters on a team looking to compete for a Natty. Both seem like good rotational depth bets right now, but not guys that you look at and say "he feels like a guy that will push for 800+ regular season yards and 7-8 TDs and collect a high volume of catches."

Ian Strong isn't the issue for most people.. It's a lack of confidence in who exists on the roster currently, based on 2 years of virtually irrelevant production.

Also, when ND made the national championship that you are alluding to, ND's boundary WR got smothered and did absolutely nothing, while Ohio State's was a game wrecker all evening. If the goal is to win the Natty with a QB driven offense, your boundary WR likely has to be closer to Jeremiah Smith in talent than friggen Beaux Collins.

calvegas04 · Jan 5, 2026

rtrn2glory said:
Confirmed Jeremiah Smith has been on campus since Saturday

Bloomington?

NotreDame2008Fan · Jan 5, 2026

so are we getting any transfers in or not i really think freeman wouldn’t be doing a good job if we didn’t get any transfers especially on the defensive tackles room where it seems we are very thin literally and depth wise i just think we need a couple big time run stoppers and i just not sure theres any body on the current roster we could cross train at dt to fill that hole right now

Dale · Jan 5, 2026

mrmcgrail said:
Singer was saying he doesn't think ND was pushing very hard for strong. Thought maybe they have their eye on someone else and that nd has kept a pretty tight kid on what is happening with who's on campus or not

The 247 poster who is a somewhat? reliable insider said Bingo when someone said the beat is basically in the dark and the only names we know besides Marsh basically are agent driven.

sfk324 · Jan 5, 2026

NotreDame2008Fan said:
so are we getting any transfers in or not i really think freeman wouldn’t be doing a good job if we didn’t get any transfers especially on the defensive tackles room where it seems we are very thin literally and depth wise i just think we need a couple big time run stoppers and i just not sure theres any body on the current roster we could cross train at dt to fill that hole right now

sfk324 · Jan 5, 2026

Dale said:
The 247 poster who is a somewhat? reliable insider said Bingo when someone said the beat is basically in the dark and the only names we know besides Marsh basically are agent driven.

The beat doesn't have inside info? I for one am shocked.

PolishDomer · Jan 5, 2026

calvegas04 said:
Is MF even at ND or is he still on vacation?

No the staff was in Caracas this weekend checking out a prospect...but he was taken overnight

IrishInOntario · Jan 5, 2026

One thing about the Portal period is that it doesn't lack for agent driven drama! No different then the Bo, Tucker, Bregman + Japanese trio in MLB free agency right now.

Kind of fun to be honest! I really enjoy roster construction and seeing what choices the staff makes!

IrishTusker · Jan 5, 2026

calvegas04 said:
Is MF even at ND or is he still on vacation?

He's around, there was a whole series of posts in the MF thread about how he fought with a coach at a Penn wrestling match

NDPhilly · Jan 5, 2026

Dale said:
The 247 poster who is a somewhat? reliable insider said Bingo when someone said the beat is basically in the dark and the only names we know besides Marsh basically are agent driven.

Smart by Strong’s agent tbh if so.

Taking a step back, if Strong was an “elite” WR in the portal, would Cal really be his destination?

sfk324 · Jan 5, 2026

NDPhilly said:
Smart by Strong’s agent tbh if so.

Taking a step back, if Strong was an “elite” WR in the portal, would Cal really be his destination?

He's elite by transfer portal standards. If he was actually elite, he'd be in the draft.

WildMan1 · Jan 5, 2026

I think we end up with Canion.. dude is very religious & academically serious in business admin.

ND is a perfect fit..

People don’t think it be like that but sometimes it do

IrishInOntario · Jan 5, 2026

NDPhilly said:
Smart by Strong’s agent tbh if so.

Taking a step back, if Strong was an “elite” WR in the portal, would Cal really be his destination?

He's not elite... Just a good, solid, experienced, productive boundary WR. I didn't see a single person utter the word elite in reference to him.

IRISHbluehen · Jan 5, 2026

PolishDomer said:
No the staff was in Caracas this weekend checking out a prospect...but he was taken overnight

Just another big body we couldn't even get to visit before getting (black) bagged.....

IrishLax · Jan 5, 2026

calvegas04 said:
Is MF even at ND or is he still on vacation?

Didn't you hear? He took the Giants job.

Dale · Jan 5, 2026

NDPhilly said:
Smart by Strong’s agent tbh if so.

Taking a step back, if Strong was an “elite” WR in the portal, would Cal really be his destination?

I thought he was “Tier 2”. I think Reed Harris is comparable and Canion is better. I wouldn’t mind Parker Livingstone who IU also hosted but unlikely to take both. OU is front runner now.

PolishDomer · Jan 5, 2026

rtrn2glory said:
Confirmed Jeremiah Smith has been on campus since Saturday

Apparently hanging out with superfan Sydney Sweeney...heard ND WRs attract female talent

IrishInOntario · Jan 5, 2026

WildMan1 said:
I think we end up with Canion.. dude is very religious & academically serious in business admin.

ND is a perfect fit..

People don’t think it be like that but sometimes it do

I'd definitely take him. He pretty much projects to be the Malachi Fields regen, possibly with an extra gear. Could be a really good player if he's well coached and plays with a better QB.

I'm not going to get my hopes up, although I'll be happy to give you your props if you're correct!

benneboy · Jan 5, 2026

IrishLax said:
Maybe some of you should've taken a beat before getting on my ass yesterday for expressing concern over "process."

Ah, yes. This board has been way too optimistic
That's the problem.

calvegas04 · Jan 5, 2026

IrishLax said:
Didn't you hear? He took the Giants job.

Lines up with recent recruiting

phillyirish · Jan 5, 2026

I think it’s safe to combine this thread with the bedwetters one now.

US_Highway14 · Jan 5, 2026

NotreDame2008Fan said:
so are we getting any transfers in or not i really think freeman wouldn’t be doing a good job if we didn’t get any transfers especially on the defensive tackles room where it seems we are very thin literally and depth wise i just think we need a couple big time run stoppers and i just not sure theres any body on the current roster we could cross train at dt to fill that hole right now

Periods and grammar all around exist for a reason.

Te'o4Heisman · Jan 5, 2026

JerseyIrishMan said:
You seem upset?

He’s just constantly a know it all condescending prick for no reason. Dont mind him.

2026 ND Portal Targets

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