Notre Dame safety Taebron Bennie-Powell is officially entering the transfer portal, signaling a new chapter in his college football journey.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound defensive back from Lakota West High School in Ohio spent two seasons in South Bend, seeing the field just once - a brief appearance against Syracuse in which he recorded a single tackle. While his time on the field was limited, Bennie-Powell was part of a competitive safety room that’s only grown deeper and more talented since his arrival.
A consensus three-star recruit in the 2024 class, Bennie-Powell chose Notre Dame over programs like Duke, Kentucky, West Virginia, and Pittsburgh. His commitment came with high hopes, but the Irish secondary has quickly become one of the most crowded position groups on the roster.
Since Bennie-Powell’s arrival, Notre Dame has added five safeties over the last two recruiting cycles. That includes Jadon Blair and Ethan Long - both part of the 2025 class - who made early impressions by cracking the depth chart as true freshmen.
And the pipeline isn’t slowing down. Five-star prospect Joey O’Brien is set to arrive as an early enrollee in the 2026 class, adding even more firepower to the back end of the Irish defense.
The current roster outlook also includes Tae Johnson, a rising star expected to take on an even bigger role, and the potential return of Adon Shuler, who’s NFL Draft-eligible but could come back to anchor the secondary. Add in rotational standout Luke Talich, and it’s clear that Notre Dame’s safety group is both talented and deep - a tough combination for any young player trying to carve out a role.
With playing time at a premium and the path to the field increasingly narrow, Bennie-Powell made the decision to explore opportunities elsewhere - a move that makes sense for a player looking to make an immediate impact. The transfer portal gives him a fresh shot to find a program where he can get on the field, contribute, and continue developing.
Wherever Bennie-Powell lands next, he’ll bring with him two years of experience in one of the nation’s most demanding defensive systems - and the hunger to prove he belongs on the field.