Notre Dame didn’t just dip into the transfer portal this offseason - they made a calculated move to reinforce the heart of their defense. And leading that charge is Tionne Gray, a mountain of a man at 6-foot-6, 336 pounds, transferring in from Oregon.
Gray has already been recognized as the most impactful newcomer for the Irish by CBS Sports, and it’s not hard to see why. He’s not just a big body; he’s a big-time addition to a defensive front that’s already built to bully.
Let’s start with the basics: Gray played in all 13 games for the Ducks last season, including their full postseason slate. He earned starts in Oregon’s first three games - against Montana State, Oklahoma State, and Northwestern - and while his stat line didn’t exactly leap off the page (18 tackles, two tackles for loss), the tape tells a different story. This is a player who doesn’t need gaudy numbers to make his presence felt.
According to Pro Football Focus, Gray logged 232 total snaps in 2025 - 133 of those came on run defense, and that’s where he did his best work. He registered six run stops and just one pressure on the quarterback, but that lone pressure turned into a sack in a big-time playoff matchup against James Madison. That’s the kind of efficiency coaches love - when a player capitalizes on limited opportunities.
What Gray brings to South Bend is clear: immediate size, strength, and a proven ability to clog running lanes. Oregon’s run defense finished 24th in the country last season, a jump from 38th the year before, and Gray was part of that improvement.
Now, he steps into a Notre Dame defense that already ranked in the top 12 nationally against the run. His job?
Keep that number right where it is - or better yet, help push it higher.
His role won’t be flashy, and he’s not expected to replicate the pass-rush production that Notre Dame got from Rylie Mills in 2024. But Gray doesn’t need to be that guy. With new defensive line coach Charlie Partridge - fresh off a stint with the Indianapolis Colts - overseeing his development, Gray’s focus will be on anchoring the middle, eating up double teams, and freeing up the linebackers to make plays.
This is a classic case of a player whose impact won’t always show up in the box score but will be obvious to anyone watching the game closely. Gray’s presence alone can change the line of scrimmage, and that’s exactly what Notre Dame needs as they reload for another run at national relevance.
Marcus Freeman and his staff may not have brought in a massive haul from the portal this offseason, but they didn’t need to. They went for quality over quantity - and in Tionne Gray, they landed a piece that fits perfectly into the puzzle.