Looking for Reinforcements: Potential Notre Dame Portal Targets
- Noah Wehby
- 4 days ago
- 5 min read
With the transfer portal officially open, and with the droves of student-athletes that had already announced their intent to enter, the portal should be as chaotic as ever. With holes still left in the upcoming Notre Dame roster, who are some potential targets for Marcus Freeman and his staff?
Photo by Michigan State Athletics
Nick Marsh - Michigan State Wide Receiver
Nick Marsh would be a huge addition and an impactful player for a team looking to compete for a National Championship in 2026. It has been reported that both Notre Dame and LSU are heavily pursuing Marsh, with Indiana also in the mix. Marsh is a game-changer on the outside and would immediately replace Malachi Fields as the big, physical, and athletic playmaker. Standing at 6'3" and 200 lbs, Marsh excels at making tough, contested catches downfield, but he also combines that size with excellent speed that he uses to outrun defenders and get behind the entire defense for big plays. During his two years at MSU, Marsh totaled 1,311 yards and nine touchdowns, producing over 600 yards in each season. Marsh is regarded as one of the best wide receivers in the portal and is clearly someone Notre Dame is pursuing. Notre Dame appears to be lacking that physical target on the outside going into the 2026 season. It was obvious how much CJ Carr enjoyed having the ability to throw the ball to Fields. Marsh could easily turn into that target for Carr in 2026 if Freeman can sell him on Notre Dame.
Reed Harris - Boston College Wide Receiver
If Notre Dame is unable to land Marsh, Reed Harris could be another great option they could pivot to in order to bolster the wide receiver room in 2026. Harris, like Marsh and Fields from a year ago, is a huge wide receiver who thrives on the outside. Harris is 6'5" and 217 lbs, which gives him a huge advantage against his defenders and would be a dangerous weapon for Carr to use. Last season, Harris was at his best, logging 673 yards and five touchdowns. These big, physical wide receivers seem to be a common target for Notre Dame in the portal. The Irish have plenty of talented wide receivers, but they lack size, and Harris has plenty of that. Although he is probably not as talented as Marsh, Harris would be a great fit in this offense and would seamlessly be able to come in and fill a needed role.
Mateen Ibirogba - Wake Forest Defensive Tackle
Notre Dame's interior defensive line is in need of incoming talent this offseason. This group has lost a significant number of players since the season concluded, many of whom were key contributors in 2025. With all of these departures, Notre Dame will most likely be looking to bring in some experience and depth to the interior to ensure its defense is ready in 2026. Ibirogba checks all of those boxes and would be one of the biggest acquisitions of the portal cycle, as he sits at No. 15 on On3's portal rankings. Not only would that mean Notre Dame is getting a great player to come in and start right away, but they would be getting that player in a spot where they desperately need reinforcements. Originally a pass-rusher, Ibirogba has an elite first step and burst off the line. Although much bigger than he was as a pass-rusher, he still retains all of his explosiveness and speed, making him dangerous in the interior. For Ibirogba, consistency at defensive tackle is where he can see the most growth, but it is clear that he has all the athleticism needed to be an impact player for the Irish in 2026.
Jontez Williams - Iowa State CB
Notre Dame is no stranger to targeting defensive back help in the portal, and Jontez Williams will be no different. The Irish had previously enlisted the likes of DeVonta Smith from Alabama and Jordan Clark from Arizona State to play in the slot for the Fighting Irish over the past two seasons. And with depth like Karson Hobbs now in the transfer portal, nickel is once again a position of need. In his time at Iowa State, Williams totalled 67 tackles, 10 pass deflections, and five interceptions through three seasons. His sticky coverage skills would be another welcome addition to the revolving door that has been the nickel position for the Fighting Irish. Currently, Williams is scheduled to visit Notre Dame on January 5th. Williams will also take visits to USC and Florida.
Ian Geffrard - Arkansas Defensive Tackle
For years now, Notre Dame defensive tackles have always leaned on the lighter side of things, favoring speed over size and power. Geffrard would definitely be a change of pace. Geffrard is an astounding 6'6" and 370 lbs. At that size, he would be a huge force in the middle to disrupt the running game and establish a level of physicality on the defensive line that would help Notre Dame's defense remain one of the best in the country. With his size, Geffrard eats up a lot of space, allowing Notre Dame's elite linebackers and pass-rushers to shoot the gaps and get free lanes to the running back and quarterback. He may not be exactly what Notre Dame is looking for in the portal, but he is one of the top defensive tackles in the portal, so far, which means there is a chance he will be someone the staff looks at.
It is still early in the transfer portal season, as many more players will still likely enter once every team's season concludes. There will be a lot more twist and turns before it becomes clear what Notre Dame's roster will look like heading into spring camp. The names listed are just a few of the many players Notre Dame are or is likely to pursue this cycle. There are other positions Notre Dame will most likely look to add in the portal like kicker, running back, backup QB, and a few others.
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