2026 Transfer Portal - General

[NDMatt91]

Can someone who thinks we only need 2 DTs walk me through your 2-3 deep there and tell me how we’re a title contender? Legitimately asking.

I would personally add 3, but if they add 2 starters, let's say Mateen Ibirogba and John Walker, it would look like this:

Ibirogba/Hughes
Walker/1 of Mukam/Sevillano/Burgess/Dixon/Golden

 

[PolishDomer]

I would personally add 3, but if they add 2 starters, let's say Mateen Ibirogba and John Walker, it would look like this:

Ibirogba/Hughes
Walker/1 of Mukam/Sevillano/Burgess/Dixon/Golden

No one is talking about Sevillano..wasn't he a natural run stopper, like a bowling ball or something ala King Hippo?

 

[phillyirish]

I’ll I’m asking for his one all-American wide receiver, two elite Dts, another depth dlineman… nothing special but preferably all-conference level. A game proven backup QB would be nice, and a solid pass catching TE to go with him. Also, a kicker that can accurately knock down field goals from the Legends parking lot.

That’s all I’m really asking for.

 

[slick7410]

I have Onye and

Can someone who thinks we only need 2 DTs walk me through your 2-3 deep there and tell me how we’re a title contender? Legitimately asking.

i had Hughes and Onye as rotational players on a championship contending team

Hinish as a situational player on a premier team.

If we are left with only Hughes , you would need 2 transfer , 2 internal (we have what 8 more on scholarship? - someone better develop). Just to get to 5 - is that enough?

That + Onye is good I would think. If no Onye , 3 isn’t crazy

 

[IRISHbluehen]

 

[CanadalovesND]

Brown enters with a no contact tag.

 

[317Irish]

Brown enters with a no contact tag.

Do we know it they know if he knows?

 

[CanadalovesND]

Miami locking up their 2026 starting RB while getting ready for the Semi-finals.

 

[RudyVerse]

I would personally add 3, but if they add 2 starters, let's say Mateen Ibirogba and John Walker, it would look like this:

Ibirogba/Hughes
Walker/1 of Mukam/Sevillano/Burgess/Dixon/Golden

This is not a title winning interior. It doesn’t have to be the best unit on the field, but Hughes, Mukam, and Sevallino are not in the 2 deep on a title team based on what they’ve shown thus far (of course players can improve YOY).

I think our interior was an eye sore this year and it’s set to be worse without major improvement in portal.

As it stands, Elijah Hughes is the only interior player coming back who was somewhat in the rotation. ND will win or fall short again based on what they do with DT in the portal. They need 3 minimum and they can’t be just bodies.

 

[notredomer23]

Miami locking up their 2026 starting RB while getting ready for the Semi-finals.

He’s going to Texas

 

[CanadalovesND]

He’s going to Texas

It appears so. Miami 24/7 thinks he's headed to Austin.

 

[IrishInOntario]

Ryan Roberts is reporting that ND will be in on a Big 10 defensive tackle that has yet to put his name in the transfer portal, but whose agent is actively shopping his services in the background. Roberts won't confirm the name until the kid joins, but said that ND will be really aggressive with an offer.

Reading between the lines, Roberts is essentially insinuating that the combination of Igbirogba and said unamed DT/NG type would be at the top of ND's board as they look to add 2 impact interior players.

I'll be curious to see if it's an established grad transfer type (I assume it is), a formerly high ranked player that ND is still high on (seems less likely).

 

[IRISHDODGER]

Since everyone else successfully sues the NCAA for eligibility, why can’t Onye go ahead and have a lawsuit ready to file for when the NCAA denies his appeal?

 

[Dale]

Would pay.

 

[allenm5333]

Ryan Roberts is reporting that ND will be in on a Big 10 defensive tackle that has yet to put his name in the transfer portal, but whose agent is actively shopping his services in the background. Roberts won't confirm the name until the kid joins, but said that ND will be really aggressive with an offer.

Reading between the lines, Roberts is essentially insinuating that the combination of Igbirogba and said unamed DT/NG type would be at the top of ND's board as they look to add 2 impact interior players.

I'll be curious to see if it's an established grad transfer type (I assume it is), a formerly high ranked player that ND is still high on (seems less likely).

he also changed his tune on us and Marsh. More optimistic

 

[arrowryan]

37/43 the last two seasons. 2x All Big 10 Honorable Mention.

 

[rtrn2glory]

I like the idea of bringing in a kicker that's used to kicking in the Midwest.

 

[MacIrish75]

I like the idea of bringing in a kicker that's used to kicking in the Midwest.

Man if not this guy…if the Pitt kicker entered…if you can kick in Pittsburgh, you can kick anywhere.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

The Miami game didn't hurt, it was the phantom holding call vs A&M that fucked us.

One botched hold changed the entire season.

 

[NDMatt91]

37/43 the last two seasons. 2x All Big 10 Honorable Mention.

12/16 from 40+ the last 2 seasons

 

[IrishInOntario]

Thought experiment... Let's say that ND's collective Transfer Portal budget + NIL for Transfer Portal players is approximately $6 million this year. Forget for a second how much comes from rev share and how much comes from NIL. Just assume that $6 million is the total to be divided between Portal priorities.

How would you feel about the allotment of funds if they were roughly distributed in the following way...

Defensive Tackle #1: $1,300,000
Wide Receiver #1: $1,200,000
Defensive Tackle #2: $900,000
Tight End #1: $700,000
Defensive End #1: $600,000
Running Back #1: $600,000
Kicker #1: $400,000
Quarterback #1: $300,000

That feels about right to me if the intent is to add approximately 8 impact players to the roster and be to compete with top programs for quality additions. Obviously, the staff might slot the funds differently, but that feels about right to me in order to fill ND's needs and land a combination of impact + depth.

 

[NDVirginia19]

The Miami game didn't hurt, it was the phantom holding call vs A&M that fucked us.

One botched hold changed the entire season.

That botched hold cost the season, but ultimately we shouldn’t have let it get to a position where we needed that call to determine the outcome of the game

 

[GoIrish41]

Thought experiment... Let's say that ND's collective Transfer Portal budget + NIL for Transfer Portal players is approximately $6 million this year. Forget for a second how much comes from rev share and how much comes from NIL. Just assume that $6 million is the total to be divided between Portal priorities.

How would you feel about the allotment of funds if they were roughly distributed in the following way...

Defensive Tackle #1: $1,300,000
Wide Receiver #1: $1,200,000
Defensive Tackle #2: $900,000
Tight End #1: $700,000
Defensive End #1: $600,000
Running Back #1: $600,000
Kicker #1: $400,000
Quarterback #1: $300,000

That feels about right to me if the intent is to add approximately 8 impact players to the roster and be to compete with top programs for quality additions. Obviously, the staff might slot the funds differently, but that feels about right to me in order to fill ND's needs and land a combination of impact + depth.

I’d use the money you allotted to a TE and RB to go for a 3rd DT. I think we are set up nicely at RB and TE and the glaring weakness on the squad is the defensive interior.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

That botched hold cost the season, but ultimately we shouldn’t have let it get to a position where we needed that call to determine the outcome of the game

I guess you can say two botched holds: TB and the refs.

 

[MacIrish75]

The Miami game didn't hurt, it was the phantom holding call vs A&M that fucked us.

One botched hold changed the entire season.

Technically two “botched holds…”
Edit: You the man @Jimmy3Putt.

 

[IrishInOntario]

I’d use the money you allotted to a TE and RB to go for a 3rd DT. I think we are set up nicely at RB and TE and the glaring weakness on the squad is the defensive interior.

Fair enough, but I actually think that's more perception than reality in my mind. Keeping in mind that you have to be at least 2-deep at both the RB and TE positions to protect from injuries in a season you're hoping to compete for a Championship... Which 2 TEs and 2 RBs have provided you a high degree of confidence that they're going to be Championship caliber players?

I think that it's reasonable to suggest 1 of Flanagan, Flanigan or Premer will emerge as a 1A or 1B Championship caliber TE, but I think it's a stretch to assume that two players will emerge there in the same year and play at that level. For that reason I'd rather add a proven guy if I can get somebody like Foley, and develop the second guy internally.

Same argument at RB. I think it's safe to assume that 1 of Aneyas Williams, Kedron Young or the freshmen will be ready to be a Championship caliber 1A or 1B running back, but I think it's bold to assume that 2 players of that caliber will emerge in the same cycle. Therefore, if you can get a proven rusher in the Portal to pair with whichever guy emerges from your deoth chart, you do that. Especially given ND's interest in a two back system.

Let's apply that same logic to the defensive tackle group. You need 4 players you're confident can rotate between 2 positions and play at a Championship level. You have 1 of those players in Elijah Hughes, who played meaningful snaps last year. That leaves Mukam, Mullins, Sevillano, Dixon, Burgess , Golden and some projects. If you're not confident that at least 1 of those guys can emerge as a top 4 DT/NG, you need to scrap your entire recruiting operation and start over, because it's failed you. So for argument sake, let's say you have Hughes + whoever emerges from that group. That leaves you 2 spots left in your top 4 for a combination of Onye and / or 2 Transfer Portal additions. Personally, unless you can get an underrated 3rd guy for super cheap, I think 3 players is overkill and a misuse of Portal funds that could be better used to balance out depth and overall takent at other positions.

 

[Jimmy3Putt]

Why would our budget be only six million? Double that and eliminate ALL holes.

Don't handicap our team when they're on an all out revenge tour against the world!

 

[Rasputin]

37/43 the last two seasons. 2x All Big 10 Honorable Mention.

Probably the first time someone has ever said "Thank you champagne" on New Year's Day.

 

[IrishInOntario]

Why would our budget be only six million? Double that and eliminate ALL holes.

Don't handicap our team when they're on an all out revenge tour against the world!

Because your budget is combination of Rev Share + NIL... So you can't spend funds you don't have. $6 million is actually a healthy transfer portal budget.

ND football is probably getting about $17 million worth of the entire athletic department's Rev Share room, but that has to service the entire roster, including their top returning internal talent. So if you allocate let's say $4 million of that Rev Share space to 7-8 portal acquisitions, you've actually taken a healthy, large percentage of your total available Rev Share and allocated it to the portal.

The rest of the money has to come from NIL, which means that the players you acquire have to be marketable enough to convince businesses to invest in a relationship with them and the player has to be willing to do what the business is asking in return. For that reason, it's harder to get large NIL deals with companies than people think. There aren't a lot of mid size companies able or willing to put out $500,000-$1,000,000 to help ND buy a rotational defensive tackle. Those big deals go to guys like Jeremiah Love, Leonard Moore or CJ Carr, who are marketable. You can get mid size deals for your second tier star players, but people aren't just throwing out millions of dollars to "no name" players. Especially not at a place like Notre Dame.

In short, a $6 million portal budget is both realistic and really healthy. If the right player were available maybe ND ends up finding a way to up it by $500,000 or $1,000,000, but that relies heavily on another NIL opportunity becoming available or ND making a tough roster choice elsewhere with Rev Share funds.

Saying "double that" is all well and good, but where exactly is the $12 million+ coming from so that ND can buy 8-10 players making $1.0-$1.5 million each? You either know of some huge NIL sponsors that I don't, or you're suggesting that ND lose another 20+ players off it's roster because you've redirected all of the Rev Share money intended for them to transfer portal players. That sounds like a lockeroom nightmare and program stability blunder.

 

[GoIrish41]

Fair enough, but I actually think that's more perception than reality in my mind. Keeping in mind that you have to be at least 2-deep at both the RB and TE positions to protect from injuries in a season you're hoping to compete for a while... Which 2 TEs and 2 RBs have provided you a high degree of confidence that they're going to be Championship caliber players?

I think that it's reasonable to suggest 1 of Flanagan, Flanigan or Premer will emerge as a 1A or 1B Championship caliber TE, but I think it's a stretch to assume that two players will emerge there in the same year and play at that level. For that reason I'd rather add a proven guy if I can get somebody like Foley, and develop the second guy internally.

Same argument at RB. I think it's safe to assume that 1 of Aneyas Williams, Kedron Young or the freshman will be ready to be a Championship caliber 1A or 1B running back, but I think it's bold to assume that 2 players of that caliber will emerge in the same cycle. Therefore, if you can can get a proven rusher in the Portal to pair with whichever guy emerges from your deoth chart, you do that. Especially given ND's interest in a two back system.

Let's apply that same logic to the defensive tackle group. You need 4 players you're confident can rotate between 2 positions and play at a high level. You have one of those players in Elijah Hughes, who played meaningful snaps last year. That leaves Mukam, Mullins, Sevillano, Dixon, Burgess and Golden and some projects. If you're not confident that at least one of those guys can emerge as one of your top 4 DT/NGs, you need to scrap your entire recruiting operation and start over, because it's failed you. So for argument sake, let's say you have Hughes + whoever emerges from that group. That leaves you 2 spots left in your top 4 for a combination of Onye and / or 2 Transfer Portal Additions. Personally, unless you can get an underrated 3rd guy for super cheap for super cheap, I think 3 players is overkill and a misuse of Portal funds.

Flannigan and Flanagan, plus Premer are a solid 3-deep TE room that most any team in the country would be happy with. Plus we have 3 developmental/depth pieces behind them.

I think Young is going to be a monster at RB and obviously Williams has the goods, as he’s show every time he is given the opportunity. We need a third back to show out from a group of more than solid freshmen and James, who garnered a lot of praise from coaches last season.

As for DT, I have doubts that Onye is getting another year, which leaves ND with a lot of really young and relatively undersized talent. We need some experienced beef in the middle who can lock down the running lanes and disrupt passing rhythm. Maybe Burgess makes some strides but the development of Mukam, Sevillano and Dixon has not been apparent, and Mullins isn’t big enough yet. Hughes is a solid rotation player, but we need five or six guys to contribute over a 15-16 game season. Three seems like the right number.

Keep in mind, any luxury position additions aren’t likely to sot well with young talent, making future defections more likely in rooms that are on a pretty solid trajectory.