Notre Dame’s 2026 roster makeover isn’t just about the No. 1 recruiting class. Marcus Freeman also went into the portal and came out with four players ESPN placed inside its Top 100 transfers, a haul that should give the Irish immediate help on both lines and at receiver.
The highest-ranked of the bunch is Tionne Gray at No. 38.
ESPN’s Tom Olson said, "The Irish are bringing in two of the top defensive tackles in the portal in Gray and Pitt's Francis Brewu to bolster their defensive front," Olson stated. "Gray is a great late get in this portal cycle who certainly has the upside to develop into an early-round draft pick."
Gray arrives at 6-5, 330 pounds and instantly becomes the biggest defensive tackle on the roster. Notre Dame won’t be using him as just a body in the middle, either. His size matters in the run game, but his strong hands and quick feet also give him a chance to affect the quarterback.
At No. 61, Quincy Porter gives Notre Dame another big target on the outside.
Olson noted, "Porter and fellow Ohio State transfer Mylan Graham, a top-50 recruit in the 2024 class, join a Fighting Irish receiving corps that returns top receiver Jordan Faison plus Jaden Greathouse, who missed most of the 2025 season due to injury," Olson explained. "If Porter can recover from his injury and stay healthy, he should make an immediate impact this fall."
Porter fills an obvious need after Malachi Fields’ departure, and at 6-4, 207 pounds, he brings the kind of size Notre Dame wanted on the boundary. He also has multiple years of eligibility left, which means his biggest breakout could still be ahead, but he gives the Irish depth and a physical presence right away.
Francis Brewu checks in at No. 67, and he gives Notre Dame another major piece up front. Olson shared, "The Irish had a clear need at defensive tackle and landed a player who has a 685-pound squat max, a 475-pound bench press and a 33-inch vertical jump, according to The Athletic," Olson shared. "He's reuniting with new Notre Dame defensive line coach Charlie Partridge, who recruited Brewu to Pitt out of high school."
Brewu is the only portal player Notre Dame faced last season, when Pitt came to South Bend in November. At 6-1, 285 pounds, he looks like the kind of interior force who can slide into the Jared Dawson or Howard Cross role, only with even more raw strength.
The final Irish name on ESPN’s list is Keon Keeley at No. 78.
Olson said, "Here's a familiar name for Fighting Irish fans," Olson said of the former Fighting Irish commit. "Keeley is finally making the move to South Bend after previously decommitting from the Notre Dame in August 2022.
Marcus Freeman and his staff must be pleased this worked out and they're getting two good years with a former five-star who's determined to fight for a major role in their defense."
Keeley’s return to South Bend adds another layer to Notre Dame’s edge rotation. With Boubacar Traore and Bryce Young ahead of him, the depth chart had some uncertainty, but Keeley gives the Irish a chance at a strong three-man setup on the outside. He was still a work in progress in the spring, but a strong finish to the offseason could turn him into a major factor on the defensive line.
ESPN also listed several Notre Dame opponents among its top transfer rankings. Miami landed Darian Mensah at No.
4, Damon Wilson II at No. 8, Cooper Barkate at No. 46 and Vandrevius Jacobs at No.
- BYU had Cade Uluave at No. 71, and Wisconsin had Colton Joseph at No.
In Other News...
ACC Finally Changed The Rule Notre Dame Fans Hated Last Year
The ACC has finally moved to clean up a championship tiebreaker system that left plenty of room for frustration last season, and that matters in South Bend because Notre Dame has a front-row seat to how the league handles its title race. Head-to-head matchups still sit at the top of the chain, but the conference has also added Team Success Ranking by Sport Source Analytics as a later tiebreaker, a sign the league is trying to make the process feel more modern and more in line with how the College Football Playoff evaluates teams.
There is also a practical wrinkle built into the new setup with the conferences shifting schedule model, as the ACC will account for how many league games a team played so nobody is helped or hurt simply for landing on an eight-game or nine-game slate. The change comes after last years messy, multi-layered tiebreaker debate, and it should at least reduce the odds of another postseason argument that drags on longer than the season itself. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame May Be Losing A Chicago Battle It Should Win
Brayden Parks gives Notre Dame a familiar recruiting puzzle in its own backyard. The four-star defensive lineman from Chicago is still weighing the Irish along with Oregon and other schools, and the appeal of staying close to home has kept Notre Dame in the conversation as it tries to land one of the areas top prospects.
The challenge is that the race does not appear to be moving in Notre Dames direction right now, even with that local connection working in its favor. Parks seems to be sorting through more than just geography, with the decision likely to come down to whether he wants the comfort of a nearby option or a chance to strike out on a different path. [Read more 🡒]