Junior Tuihalamaka’s next move is coming into focus, and it could send the former Notre Dame defensive lineman back into the transfer portal.
According to USA Today’s John Brice, speaking Thursday on the Irish Illustrated Insider Podcast, Tuihalamaka’s agent has indicated he intends to enter the portal. He has not officially done so yet.
The timing follows a Louisiana judge’s decision Wednesday to grant Tuihalamaka and 15 other former football players a temporary restraining order that allows them to return to college for a final season. That ruling gave him special approval to pursue another year at the college level.
Tuihalamaka’s path back to the field has been complicated by the legal fight around NCAA eligibility rules. The case is part of a wave of lawsuits challenging the NCAA’s updated system, which lets current players compete in five seasons over five years, while leaving out players who used up their eligibility last fall under the old setup that allowed four seasons without a redshirt.
There was at least some discussion about whether Notre Dame might bring him back. Sources said the Irish had considered him as a way to add depth at defensive end. But the program was uneasy about that possibility, and that may be why Tuihalamaka is leaning toward the portal instead of trying to spend his fifth season in South Bend, Ind.
His NFL route also took a hit. Notre Dame expected more league attention, but an injury at Pro Day cooled that interest, and he did not attend an NFL mini-camp. Several other players from the high school recruiting class of 2022 who were part of the lawsuit against the NCAA have already signed NFL contracts.
Over four seasons, the 6-foot-2, 255-pound lineman appeared in 54 games and made seven starts. He finished with 61 tackles, including 9.0 for loss, along with four sacks, two pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and an interception.
Back in November, Tuihalamaka was already hinting that he wanted another shot at college football.
"A lot of people think I have another year of eligibility, which is funny," Tuihalamaka said. "Definitely wish I red-shirted freshman year, but I put the team before myself. That's my belief: always put others before you."
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Notre Dame Just Saw An Old Defensive End Twist Help LSU Fast
A Louisiana judges temporary restraining order has sent another ripple through college football, and LSU was quick to take advantage. The ruling allowed 16 players to return to college football and re-enter the transfer portal, giving the Tigers a pathway to add Notre Dame transfer Junior Tuihalamaka as they continue reshaping a defensive line that already has seen major turnover this offseason.
From Notre Dames perspective, the move is another reminder of how fluid the roster market has become, especially when a player with experience and versatility suddenly becomes available again. LSU has already fortified that front with help from Ole Miss and Tennessee, along with incoming freshmen, and Tuihalamaka gives the Tigers another piece to sort into the mix while the wider legal backdrop keeps creating unexpected openings. [Read more 🡒]
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For a receiver group trying to settle roles and build rhythm, every rep matters, and Porters absence keeps the competition open a little longer. Freemans update suggests there is progress, but also a reminder that this is still a recovery process rather than a quick return, leaving Notre Dame to manage its depth chart while one of its younger pass-catchers works his way back into the mix. [Read more 🡒]