Notre Dame Reloads: Eight Impact Transfers Join the Fighting Irish
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Notre Dame continues to make waves in the transfer portal, adding eight new faces to the roster who bring a blend of experience, upside, and immediate-impact potential. From seasoned Power Five defenders to blue-chip receivers, this group gives the Irish a serious boost across multiple positions heading into the 2026 season.
Let’s break down who’s coming in - and why each addition matters.
Francis Brewu - Defensive Line (via Pittsburgh)
Hometown: Westerville, Ohio | High School: Thomas Washington
Brewu arrives in South Bend with two years of ACC experience under his belt, including 13 starts for Pitt in 2025. He’s coming off a season where he posted 51 total tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks - numbers that earned him Honorable Mention All-ACC honors.
What stands out about Brewu is his motor and production from the interior. He’s not just a space-eater - he’s a disruptor.
His nine-tackle performance against West Virginia last September, which included a sack, was a showcase of his ability to impact games at the line of scrimmage. Add in his 2024 PFF Freshman All-American nod, and Notre Dame is getting a player who’s already proven he can contribute at a high level.
Mylan Graham - Wide Receiver (via Ohio State)
Hometown: Fort Wayne, Ind. | High School: New Haven
Graham brings elite pedigree and big-play ability to the Irish receiving corps. A former five-star recruit, he played in 13 games over two seasons at Ohio State and averaged an eye-catching 15.5 yards per reception in 2025. While his numbers (six catches, 93 yards) don’t jump off the page, the tape shows a smooth route-runner with top-end speed and reliable hands.
This is a homecoming for Graham, who racked up over 2,000 yards and 21 touchdowns in high school just a couple hours from Notre Dame’s campus. He’s a prime candidate to break out in a new system with more opportunities.
Tionne Gray - Defensive Line (via Oregon)
Hometown: St.
Louis, Mo. | High School: Hazelwood Central
Gray played in all 13 games for Oregon last season, making three starts and showing flashes of his upside with 18 tackles and two tackles for loss. But it was his special teams play in the College Football Playoff that turned heads - a blocked 40-yard field goal against James Madison, plus a tackle for loss and a QB hurry in the same game.
A former top-10 defensive lineman in the 2024 class, Gray brings length, athleticism, and versatility to the Irish front. He’s the kind of player who can rotate in early and eventually grow into a starting role.
Keon Keeley - Defensive Line (via Alabama)
Hometown: Tampa, Fla. | High School: Berkeley Prep
This one’s a bit of a full-circle moment. Keeley, once a top Notre Dame target, now lands in South Bend after two seasons at Alabama.
The former No. 2 overall prospect in the 2023 class is as talented as they come. In 2025, he tallied 16 tackles, three sacks, and even blocked a punt.
Keeley’s best performance came on the biggest stage - four tackles and a sack in Alabama’s College Football Playoff win over Oklahoma. He’s a dynamic edge rusher with elite burst and bend, and he’ll immediately bolster Notre Dame’s pass rush. This is a major get.
DJ McKinney - Cornerback (via Colorado)
Hometown: Colleyville, Texas | High School: Colleyville Heritage
McKinney is a seasoned corner with a ton of experience and production. Over the past two seasons at Colorado, he started 22 games and racked up 97 tackles, 14 pass breakups, and four interceptions. Before that, he played at Oklahoma State, where he made an impact in the 2023 Big 12 Championship game with seven tackles.
Across his collegiate career, McKinney has 137 tackles, 19 pass breakups, and four picks. He brings a physical, aggressive style to the secondary and has shown he can hold up in man coverage. He’s not just depth - he’s a potential starter from day one.
Spencer Porath - Kicker (via Purdue)
Hometown: Brownsburg, Ind. | High School: Brownsburg
Porath is as steady as they come. In two seasons at Purdue, he drilled 15 of 17 field goals and went a perfect 41-for-41 on extra points.
His long? A booming 53-yarder.
That kind of leg strength, paired with his consistency, makes him a valuable addition for a team that’s had its share of kicking inconsistencies in recent years.
Named Indiana’s Mr. Football at the kicker position in 2023, Porath was also a U.S.
Army Bowl All-American and ranked as one of the top kickers in his class. Special teams matter - and Porath gives Notre Dame a reliable weapon in the kicking game.
Quincy Porter - Wide Receiver (via Ohio State)
Hometown: New Milford, N.J. | High School: Bergen Catholic
Porter, another former five-star receiver, played in five games for the Buckeyes last year, hauling in four catches for 59 yards. While the sample size is small, the potential is massive. He averaged nearly 15 yards per reception and was one of the top-ranked wideouts in the 2025 class.
A high school state champion and a track athlete, Porter brings speed and athleticism to the table. He was the No. 1 player in New Jersey and has the skill set to stretch defenses vertically. With Graham and Porter both joining the fold, Notre Dame’s receiving room just got a serious injection of talent.
Jayden Sanders - Cornerback (via Michigan)
Hometown: Kilgore, Texas | High School: Kilgore
Sanders played in all 13 games as a freshman for Michigan, making two starts and finishing the year with 23 tackles and a pass breakup. His best outing came against Nebraska, where he tallied eight tackles and showed off his physicality in run support.
A four-star recruit out of Texas, Sanders was a first-team All-District selection as both a defensive back and kick returner. He brings versatility to Notre Dame’s secondary and could make an early impact on special teams while developing into a key contributor on defense.
The Bottom Line
Notre Dame didn’t just dip into the portal - they dove in and came up with difference-makers. This isn’t about filling out the depth chart; it’s about upgrading the roster with players who’ve already proven they can perform at the Power Five level.
From Brewu and Keeley anchoring the defensive line, to McKinney and Sanders shoring up the secondary, and Graham and Porter adding explosiveness to the passing game, this class brings balance, experience, and upside. Add in a proven kicker like Porath, and it’s clear the Irish are building toward something big in 2026.
The message is simple: Notre Dame is reloading - and they’re not waiting around.