Notre Dame didn’t just dip into the transfer portal this offseason - it used it to patch real holes on defense.
That’s been the pattern in South Bend for a while now. Portal additions have repeatedly shown up in big spots, from Javonte Jean-Baptiste leading the Irish in tackles for a loss and sacks in 2023 to Thomas Harper helping drive the defensive turnaround that year. Jordan Clark became an important piece of the 2024 defense that reached the national title game, and this past season DeVonta Smith and Jalen Stroman were key contributors on that side of the ball.
This time around, Marcus Freeman’s staff targeted immediate needs, and the biggest one was the defensive line. The room took a hit in the offseason after Al Washington left for the Miami Dolphins, several players headed to the NFL draft, Jason Onye was nearing the end of his eligibility, Armel Mukam entered the portal and Donovan Hinish retired from football.
Then things shifted quickly. Within two weeks, Onye was granted a sixth year of eligibility, Mukam withdrew his name for the transfer portal and Freeman completed the hire of defensive line coach Charlie Partridge, who has spent time at Pitt and with the Indianapolis Colts over the last several seasons. Around that same stretch, Notre Dame added Tionne Gray from Oregon, Francis Brewu from Pitt and Keon Keeley from Alabama.
Those three give the Irish exactly what they needed. Gray, Brewu and Keeley are all expected to factor into the defensive line rotation, and Gray and Brewu have a chance to compete for starting jobs. Notre Dame wants to keep its identity as a dominant run-defending team, and those two interior additions help fortify the middle of the defense.
Keeley brings a different kind of value. Notre Dame’s starting edge group is strong, with Boubacar Traore and Bryce Young expected to be forces, but the depth behind them is young and short on experience. Keeley gives the Irish a player with upside and real game experience, having played in both playoff games for Alabama in 2025 and recorded half of his sacks on the season between the SEC title game and the first round of the playoffs against Oklahoma.
The portal work didn’t stop in the front seven. Notre Dame also added two defensive backs, DJ McKinney from Colorado and Jayden Sanders from Michigan.
At the time, those moves were a little surprising given the state of the secondary, but the logic is simple: good teams keep adding talent. McKinney has a path to start, while Sanders showed enough versatility in spring to put himself in position to be the “next man in” at multiple spots this fall.
Freeman has been clear about how Notre Dame wants to build: recruit high school talent, then supplement with the portal. This offseason fit that model, especially on defense and especially in the trenches.
The Irish needed help in specific places, and they got it. If this team ends up winning a title, this portal class will be part of the story.
In Other News...
Notre Dame Tight End Battle Just Got More Interesting For Ty Washington
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For Notre Dame, the appeal is obvious: a dependable presence in the run game who can help stabilize a position that has searched for a clear answer. The question now is whether Flanagan can stay on the field and take the next step as a receiver, because the Irish do not just need a tight end who can seal the edge. They need one who can become a real part of the passing attack, and fall camp will go a long way toward showing whether he is ready to do that. [Read more 🡒]