Notre Dame freshman safety JaDon Blair is officially entering the transfer portal, marking a significant move for a player with sky-high potential and a physical profile that turned heads long before he stepped on campus in South Bend.
At 6-foot-5 and 205 pounds, Blair has the kind of frame that makes coaches and scouts take notice. During his recruitment, he drew some lofty comparisons - most notably to former Irish standout Kyle Hamilton - thanks to his length, range, and upside in coverage. Blair was a consensus four-star prospect and a national-level target, with programs like Michigan, Virginia Tech, South Carolina, and Penn State all in the mix before he ultimately chose Notre Dame.
But as talented as Blair is, opportunity can be a tough thing to come by in a loaded secondary - and Notre Dame's safety room is exactly that: loaded.
Blair saw the field just once this season, logging a tackle in a brief appearance against Syracuse. Even so, he was part of the travel roster and earned a spot in the three-deep depth chart as a true freshman, which is no small feat in a program with this much defensive talent. He entered alongside fellow 2025 signee Ethan Long, and both were expected to be part of the future core at the position.
But the depth chart ahead of Blair is stacked. Tae Johnson and Luke Talich emerged as real playmakers this year, flashing the kind of instincts and athleticism that can lock down starting roles.
Long, too, showed enough in limited action to suggest he’ll be a factor moving forward. And then there’s Joey O’Brien, a five-star freshman who arrives with immediate-impact expectations.
Even with Adon Shuler's NFL timeline still uncertain, the Irish are set up well at safety for the next few seasons. That reality made the path to playing time less clear for Blair, who now looks to reset his trajectory elsewhere.
He enters the portal with four years of eligibility remaining, thanks to a redshirt in his first season. That’s a valuable asset for any program looking to develop a high-upside safety with elite measurables and a full runway to grow.
Blair came out of Mount Tabor High School in North Carolina, and during his recruitment, Penn State and Virginia Tech were both major players. With James Franklin now leading the Hokies, there’s already some buzz around a potential return to one of his top suitors.
Wherever he lands, Blair brings a rare combination of size, athleticism, and untapped potential. He may not have broken through at Notre Dame, but he’s still a name to watch as the transfer portal continues to reshape rosters across college football.