2026 ND Portal Targets

[Rockin’Irish]

Not true according to ISD (Matt), who’s also confused what the plan was.

Do you think Matt Freeman knows everything? IMO, the media folks know more than we do but I think it‘s foolish to think they that know all the visits that are occurring or will occur.

 

[Penick44@]

All I care about is getting 2 or possibly 3 quality interior d lineman from the portal.

 

[IrishFanForever23]

Do you think Matt Freeman knows everything? IMO, the media folks know more than we do but I think it‘s foolish to think they that know all the visits that are occurring or will occur.

Everything? No, but he clearly has connections and usually has pretty solid info. He’s also not one to throw shit out there until he knows it’s verified and true.

 

[NDWarrior]

As per above (Foley visiting this week), that's the other thing, sometimes, players want a strong transfer offer, but maybe even more importantly, they want to be part of a good, contending team and to be part of something special.

Something tells me Strong and Foley fall into that bucket whereas Marsh and Williams do not; i.e., the former have been on a path to upgrade to better, higher-tier teams whereas it seems like Marsh and Williams could have been somewhere better out of HS but went for the $ and didn't care so much about the team (pure conjecture).

I guess my main point, is that Strong and Foley are more about being part of a winning team that has something going on vs. being a mercenary and committing to the first team visited. I know it doesn't apply necessarily to Marsh going to IU, but it does feel like for him, it's more about something like less academic friction plus a strong (maybe even stronger) offer and that it doesn't matter as much to him that it's IU.

I'm just kind of thinking this, but it does feel like it. Maybe sometimes HS and Portal recruiting are the same in some respects.

 

[Del_Griffith]

It’s 2026.

If you have a wart on your face you get it removed.

With the portal, you can have warts removed and fixed. For some reason, whatever pictures gray has of freeman, ND isn’t removing its wart.

My point being that 99% of your posts talk about Gray being removed. Everyone knows you don’t like him, everyone knows you want him gone, and yet you continue to drone on and on about him. It’s a tired act.

 

[Rockin’Irish]

Everything? No, but he clearly has connections and usually has pretty solid info. He’s also not one to throw shit out there until he knows it’s verified and true.

Fair enough……like I said, there MAY have been visits but we just don’t know about them yet.

 

[NDWarrior]

I actually think this kid could wind up being an upgrade over Raridon from a production standpoint. He's a TD monster and a yard eater. 6'6, 260lb grown ass man. Plug-n-play in what I think will be a much upgraded TE room.

He's been top of my TE board since he entered the Portal and I've been talking about him all week. I'm glad ND values him as highly as I do. Yes, he played against worse competition than Raridon last year, but he was more productive than Eli in every way.

Would be an A+ get as far as the Portal goes. He's to TEs in this year's Portal class what Nick Marsh would have been to WRs.

100% - Even with Raridon having a strong showing this year, and some clutch catches, it felt like ND still hasn't gotten back to Mayer-level TEs. I think he could have a special year in 2026 w/ The Irish, if we can get him to sign on.

 

[WildMan1]

Freeman definitely has deep connections.

 

[RudyVerse]

Do you think Matt Freeman knows everything? IMO, the media folks know more than we do but I think it‘s foolish to think they that know all the visits that are occurring or will occur.

No one knows all, but for recruiting intel Matt is 2nd to none, IMO. He blows II and other outlets out of the water, and within ISD, Jamie sticks to film/analysis and Matt sticks to recruiting and seems to have strong connections with other teams as well.

For instance, he heard form two USC sources the CB committed before it was known.

 

[WildMan1]

All shit aside.. just get a boundary & load up on the Dline.. if we can’t get quality get quantity & go from there.

 

[PutuporShutup]

Might point being that 99% of your posts talk about Gray being removed. Everyone knows you don’t like him, everyone knows you want him gone, and yet you continue to drone on and on about him. It’s a tired act.

Then for everyone’s sake, if 5 for 5 gets approved let’s hope he doesn’t take his 5th at ND.

 

[CanadalovesND]

Burnham to….

IU.

Posted on his IG.

 

[Rockin’Irish]

No one knows all, but for recruiting intel Matt is 2nd to none, IMO. He blows II and other outlets out of the water, and within ISD, Jamie sticks to film/analysis and Matt sticks to recruiting and seems to have strong connections with other teams as well.

For instance, he heard form two USC sources the CB committed before it was known.

I certainly wasn’t saying Matt does a poor job, I think he is well respected for his work……my point is that there is a lot that happens behind the scenes that the reporters either are not privy to or they have been told not to broadcast. This would include kids that may have visited.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Per two folks on the USC side, Williams left uncommitted. The mom wanted him to visit Notre Dame.

I would say Chad Bowden also knew that USC's chances would change if he set foot on campus at Notre Dame or Florida.

Why didn't Notre Dame host kids this weekend? Unknown. But it cost them Nick Marsh and Jontez Williams.

ISD

https://irishsportsdaily.com/forums/1/topics/112959/2#discussion

Yeah, I'm gonna go ahead and call it. Matt is wrong here.

Not that it's still questionable about ND's portal strategy, but the idea that not hosting Marsh and Williams this weekend cost them both is asinine. I'm almost completely certain that both of these dudes knew where they were going before they even stepped foot on campus. Best case, ND gives them something to think about, but Marsh knew IU was his destination. Williams didn't want to play nickel in favor of playing corner.

I just don't get it. People act like ND had the chance to have these guys on campus and balked at it in favor of monday. Nothing indicates that's the case, so that tells me that both of them prioritized their first destination because that's where they were always going to go.

 

[IrishInOntario]

Do you think Matt Freeman knows everything? IMO, the media folks know more than we do but I think it‘s foolish to think they that know all the visits that are occurring or will occur.

I think Matt is pretty locked in and entitled to his opinion. Of course he doesn't know more than the staff. Per usual I think it's reasonable to hold two or more thoughts at once.

1). For a couple guys the staff has probably been surprised that they didn't follow through on their visits as scheduled and they'll probably have to adjust some next year.

2). The overwhelming majority of the guys ND is after have not committed anywhere and are still going visit as scheduled. Jontez Williams, Brody Foley, Mateen Igbirogba, Ian Strong and Xavier Gilliam to name a few.

3). I also think the Indiana thing is pretty unique. I suspect that the reason they were able to get so many guys on campus this weekend is because they're traveling early next week for their next game. So they were able to tell recruits that if they wanted to give Indiana a look, they had to get the first visit this weekend. It's actually a pretty smart tactic, that is also grounded in reality. Recruits can easily rationalize to a school like Notre Dame, why they had to go to Indiana first and Notre Dame early next week. ND doesn't have a playoff game to get ready for.

Specifically as it relates to the Nick Marsh situation. It's my belief (maybe with some sourcing 😉) that ND admissions were going to require him to take some spring / summer course upgrades to get through admissions and he decided that he didn't want to do that, therefore, he didn't need to visit ND before making his decision.

 

[Katzenboyer]

Have no insider info from the Irish side, but I do have a few contacts in SFla and around IU.

From what I've heard, Marsh basically called each program recruiting him and told them "this is my IU offer, you need to guarantee at least that amount if you want me to visit." ND said "best of luck to you." If true (and again, I'm no insider!) I get it; ND doesn't mind paying, but doesn't bother with the hired gun/merc/Iamaleava types. If that's what they viewed re: Marsh, it would make sense to turn their attention to Strong (which it appears they have).

Also heard Jontez Williams wasn't coming to ND. Good kid, good family, but he wanted warm weather. We were third behind USC and Florida.

 

[IrishTusker]

Have no insider info from the Irish side, but I do have a few contacts in SFla and around IU.

From what I've heard, Marsh basically called each program recruiting him and told them "this is my IU offer, you need to guarantee at least that amount if you want me to visit." ND said "best of luck to you." If true (and again, I'm no insider!) I get it; ND doesn't mind paying, but doesn't bother with the hired gun/merc/Iamaleava types. If that's what they viewed re: Marsh, it would make sense to turn their attention to Strong (which it appears they have).

Also heard Jontez Williams wasn't coming to ND. Good kid, good family, but he wanted warm weather. We were third behind USC and Florida.

That sounds like he settled on IU in advance, then, and would only go elsewhere for more money.

 

[IrishinSyria]

As per above (Foley visiting this week), that's the other thing, sometimes, players want a strong transfer offer, but maybe even more importantly, they want to be part of a good, contending team and to be part of something special.

Something tells me Strong and Foley fall into that bucket whereas Marsh and Williams do not; i.e., the former have been on a path to upgrade to better, higher-tier teams whereas it seems like Marsh and Williams could have been somewhere better out of HS but went for the $ and didn't care so much about the team (pure conjecture).

I guess my main point, is that Strong and Foley are more about being part of a winning team that has something going on vs. being a mercenary and committing to the first team visited. I know it doesn't apply necessarily to Marsh going to IU, but it does feel like for him, it's more about something like less academic friction plus a strong (maybe even stronger) offer and that it doesn't matter as much to him that it's IU.

I'm just kind of thinking this, but it does feel like it. Maybe sometimes HS and Portal recruiting are the same in some respects.

Man like I don’t know what to tell you but if you think IU isn’t effectively pitching be a part of something special …. You may have shamrock colored glasses on.

 

[IrishTusker]

Man like I don’t know what to tell you but if you think IU isn’t effectively pitching be a part of something special …. You may have shamrock colored glasses on.

Yeah, but even if IU wins the title this year the odds they repeat are not high. (Not because of anything about IU in particular, but because it's obviously hard to repeat.)

 

[IrishInOntario]

Burnham to….

IU.

Posted on his IG.

Burnham is and Osunsanmi is a legitimately good pair of DEs for Indiana to load up with in order to replace their starters next year. That will be a top 4 tandem in the Big 10. Good for them!

 

[smw6230]

Have no insider info from the Irish side, but I do have a few contacts in SFla and around IU.

From what I've heard, Marsh basically called each program recruiting him and told them "this is my IU offer, you need to guarantee at least that amount if you want me to visit." ND said "best of luck to you." If true (and again, I'm no insider!) I get it; ND doesn't mind paying, but doesn't bother with the hired gun/merc/Iamaleava types. If that's what they viewed re: Marsh, it would make sense to turn their attention to Strong (which it appears they have).

Also heard Jontez Williams wasn't coming to ND. Good kid, good family, but he wanted warm weather. We were third behind USC and Florida.

I completely believe that. Freeman has said on countless occasions that if you're choosing ND because of the money, then you're not choosing ND for the right reasons. His entire program, why the NFL is interested in him, is because of his ability to build a sustainable culture. Having guys show up only because of the money would go a long way to destroying the very culture that he has built.

Every ND fan has heard Freeman say that but when it comes to recruiting players in the transfer portal that point of view goes in one ear & directly out the other.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Everything? No, but he clearly has connections and usually has pretty solid info. He’s also not one to throw shit out there until he knows it’s verified and true.

He isn't, but the way he framed that comment makes it sound like ND had an opportunity get them on campus this weekend and balked at it, instead of what likely happened, which was both had an idea where they were going, prioritized that and then once they confirmed everything was in order, committed.

 

[NDWarrior]

Man like I don’t know what to tell you but if you think IU isn’t effectively pitching be a part of something special …. You may have shamrock colored glasses on.

Like I said, IU can be seen as exception but for sure for Marsh, LSU, ND, and IU all represented something special as pitched by their top HCs, but as I said, for Marsh between getting highest offer and much less academic friction from IU (as the last few posters have alluded to), it was a no-brainer decision for him, which kind of points to that he's a lot more $-focused and mercenary than others.

And yes, to some extent, I'm saying that some players - def. not most - just may have shamrock-colored glasses (i.e., more reverence for CFB tradition, top eductation, Independence, etc.). 🍀

 

[Katzenboyer]

I completely believe that. Freeman has said on countless occasions that if you're choosing ND because of the money, then you're not choosing ND for the right reasons. His entire program, why the NFL is interested in him, is because of his ability to build a sustainable culture. Having guys show up only because of the money would go a long way to destroying the very culture that he has built.

Every ND fan has heard Freeman say that but when it comes to recruiting players in the transfer portal that point of view goes in one ear & directly out the other.

The sense I got was that ND really liked Marsh, really wanted him to be Irish, but not at the number he got from IU.

My guy also mentioned that some of the upfront demands for a lot of these kids are insane right now, especially along the DL. First round draft pick money. Again, not making excuses for the staff (although I have full confidence they have a plan and will execute it), but if you like but don't love a player, and they want $4M+, I can see why they'd pass.

 

[T-Boone]

Fellas I don’t know where to write this but I am absolutely hammered at the scg watching the 5th test v England. Go the Irish.

 

[Crazy Balki]

Have no insider info from the Irish side, but I do have a few contacts in SFla and around IU.

From what I've heard, Marsh basically called each program recruiting him and told them "this is my IU offer, you need to guarantee at least that amount if you want me to visit." ND said "best of luck to you." If true (and again, I'm no insider!) I get it; ND doesn't mind paying, but doesn't bother with the hired gun/merc/Iamaleava types. If that's what they viewed re: Marsh, it would make sense to turn their attention to Strong (which it appears they have).

Also heard Jontez Williams wasn't coming to ND. Good kid, good family, but he wanted warm weather. We were third behind USC and Florida.

Yeah, no disrespect to Matt from ISD, but it's pretty clear he doesn't have a good read on these situations. Not his fault, because he apparently has two sources and they're not really adding up for him.

This sounds very much like an Occum's Razor recruiting situation. The simplest solution is the correct one. Marsh knew he was going to get a good situation at IU, they'd pay him a lot and he'd be on a good offense. He went there and confirmed everything and then notified everybody else that unless they can pay him X amount more, he was going to IU.

 

[irishff1014]

The sense I got was that ND really liked Marsh, really wanted him to be Irish, but not at the number he got from IU.

My guy also mentioned that some of the upfront demands for a lot of these kids are insane right now, especially along the DL. First round draft pick money. Again, not making excuses for the staff (although I have full confidence they have a plan and will execute it), but if you like but don't love a player, and they want $4M+, I can see why they'd pass.

Yup, and 90% of them aren’t worth that.

 

[IrishFanForever23]

Yeah, but even if IU wins the title this year the odds they repeat are not high. (Not because of anything about IU in particular, but because it's obviously hard to repeat.)

Have you see their schedule next year? It might be even more pathetic than ND’s.

 

[InKellyWeTrust]

I completely believe that. Freeman has said on countless occasions that if you're choosing ND because of the money, then you're not choosing ND for the right reasons. His entire program, why the NFL is interested in him, is because of his ability to build a sustainable culture. Having guys show up only because of the money would go a long way to destroying the very culture that he has built.

Every ND fan has heard Freeman say that but when it comes to recruiting players in the transfer portal that point of view goes in one ear & directly out the other.

Is Freeman selling that or is ND selling that? Honest question, I really don't know. I'd like to think ND football is bigger than its head coach (it is). If this is the mantra (right or wrong) for ND football - its not about the money - then they will have a hard time competing in an increasingly aggressive free agency football atmosphere. NFL players aren't consistently turning down more money and taking paycuts for the betterment of the team. It happens with good QBs and some other elite players sometimes, but thats the exception. And college players only have one year contracts. Its only going to get worse - over 4k players in the portal this year.

 

[IrishTusker]

Have you see their schedule next year? It might be even more pathetic than ND’s.

Right, I didn't say they wouldn't make the playoff again. Especially if it expands to 16.