Notre Dame Football Transfer Portal Tracker: Departures and Additions Ahead of the 2026 Season
- Ruben Kelly Ysasi
- Jan 8
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 17
As the dust settles from Notre Dame's 2025 campaign, the Fighting Irish are navigating the ever-evolving landscape of college football's transfer portal. The winter window, which opened on January 2nd, 2026, and runs through January 16th, has seen significant, yet stalling, movement from the program. While head coach Marcus Freeman and his staff focus on rebuilding and retaining talent in South Bend, a total of 19 players have entered the portal, seeking new opportunities elsewhere.
This tracker focuses on the departures, providing details on each player's position, remaining eligibility (where available), and any confirmed new destinations. Notre Dame fans know the portal cuts both ways—losses create opportunities for fresh faces and strategic additions. We'll update this as commitments roll in, but for now, here's the full rundown of players leaving the Irish roster. Stay tuned for incoming transfer news in our separate portal additions tracker.
Departures
Date | Position | Player Name | Class Status | Eligibility Remaining | New School |
1/'7/2025 | Wide Receiver | Antavious "Scrap" Richardson | True Freshman | 4 years | Auburn |
1/7/2025 | Linebacker | Anthony Sacca | True Freshman | 4 years | UCLA |
1/7/2025 | Linebacker | Bodie Kahoun | Redshirt Freshman | 3 years | Boston College |
1/6/2025 | Defensive Line | Preston Zinter | Redshirt Sophomore | 2 years | Rice |
1/5/2026 | Wide Receiver | KK Smith | Redshirt Freshman | 3 years | Michigan State |
1/3/2025 | Defensive Back | Karson Hobbs | True Sophomore | 2 years | Florida State |
1/2/2026 | Wide Receiver | Leo Scheidler | Graduate (Walk-on) | 1 year | |
1/2/2026 | Wide Receiver | Alex Whitman | Graduate (Walk-on) | 1 year | |
1/2/2025 | Defensive Back | Cree Thomas | True Freshman | 4 years | Colorado |
1/1/2026 | Defensive Line | Armel Mukam | Redshirt Sophomore | 2 years | Notre Dame (Withdrawn) |
12/30/2025 | Defensive Line | Joshua Burnham | Redshirt Junior | 1 year | Indiana |
12/26/2025 | Kicker | Marcello Diomede | Redshirt Sophomore | 2 years | |
12/23/2025 | Defensive Back | Ben Minich | Redshirt Sophomore | 2 years | Miami (Ohio) |
12/22/2025 | Defensive Back | JaDon Blair | Redshirt Freshman | 3 years | Missouri |
12/17/2025 | Defensive Back | Taebron Bennie-Powell | Redshirt Freshman | 3 years | Boise State |
12/17/2025 | Running back | Gi'Bran Payne | Redshirt Senior* | 2 years | Cincinnati |
12/17/2025 | Defensive Back | Chance Tucker | Redshirt Senior* | 1 year | |
12/16/2025 | Quarterback | Anthony Rezac | Redshirt Freshman | 3 years | South Dakota State |
12/8/2025 | Quarterback | Kenny Minchey | Redshirt Sophomore | 2 years | Kentucky |
*indicates medical redshirt available for the player
Notre Dame is set to face two former Irish players, Bodie Kahoun and KK Smith, in the 2026 season. Kahoun signed with Boston College on January 10th, & Smith verbally committed to Michigan State on the early afternoon of January 11th. The Irish host Michigan State on September 19th, 2026, and the Eagles will make the trip to South Bend on November 21st.
Former Irish Defensive Lineman/Linebacker Preston Zinter will be making the position switch to Tight End for next season at Rice. Former Irish Wide Receiver Scrap Richardson will be switching to Defensive Back at Auburn.
Additions
Date | Position | Name | Class Status* | Eligibility | Former Team |
1/12/2026 | Defensive Back | DJ McKinney | Redshirt Senior | 1 year | Colorado |
1/12/2026 | Wide Receiver | Quincy Porter | Redshirt Freshman | 4 years | Ohio State |
1/12/2026 | Defensive Line | Keon Keeley | Redshirt Junior | 2 years | Alabama |
1/12/2026 | Defensive Back | Jayden Sanders | True Sophomore | 3 years | Michigan |
1/13/2026 | Defensive Line | Francis Brewu | True Junior | 2 years | Pitt |
1/13/2026 | Wide Receiver | Mylan Graham | Redshirt Sophomore | 3 years | Ohio State |
1/13/2026 | Kicker | Spencer Porath | True Junior | 2 years | Purdue |
1/15/2026 | Defensive Line | Tionne Gray | Redshirt Sophomore | 3 years | Oregon |
*indicates a player's class when they play next season. For example: Mylan Graham will be a Redshirt Sophomore in the 2026-27 season, but has three years of eligibility (including that year.)
On January 12, 2026, Notre Dame broke a week-long silence in the transfer portal by landing four high-level commitments in a single day, shifting momentum after a slow start that had frustrated fans amid several departures. The additions, two former five-star talents and two experienced defensive backs, bolstered key areas, particularly wide receiver and the secondary, while providing immediate depth and long-term upside for the 2026 roster.
The headline grabber was Quincy Porter, the former Ohio State five-star wide receiver (No. 23 overall and No. 4 WR in the 2025 class), who committed after limited freshman snaps (4 catches for 59 yards) in Columbus. The 6-4, 210-pound boundary threat brings elite size, contested-catch ability, and vertical speed with four years of eligibility left, offering high upside as a potential starter and complement to the Irish's receiving group.
Joining him were Keon Keeley, the former Alabama edge rusher and one-time Notre Dame commit (five-star in 2023), who returns for a potential redemption arc with two years remaining after modest production (16 tackles, 3 sacks in 2025); DJ McKinney, the productive Colorado cornerback (97 tackles, 4 INTs over two seasons) adding Power-conference experience and ball skills to the secondary; and Jayden Sanders, the former Michigan four-star CB (23 tackles as a freshman in 2025), providing boundary depth and special teams value with three years of eligibility. These four prospects collectively address pressing needs and elevate the talent level as the portal window continues.
In the days that followed, Notre Dame continued building with additional targeted additions to round out needs across the roster.
Mylan Graham (WR, Ohio State, another former five-star recruit) committed as a rising junior with three years of eligibility remaining, bringing speed and route-running polish after six catches for 93 yards in limited 2025 action; the former top-40 national prospect from Indiana adds competition and depth to the receiving corps alongside Porter.
Spencer Porath (K, Purdue*) arrived as a rising junior with two years left, addressing special teams stability after a strong 2025 season (15-of-17 field goals, including a 53-yarder, and perfect on extra points); the in-state product offers reliability for field goals and kickoffs following Notre Dame's kicking struggles.
Tionne Gray (DT, Oregon) sealed a massive interior reinforcement as a rising junior with three years of eligibility, the 6-6, 336-pound former high-upside recruit (No. 3 DL in portal rankings) providing nose tackle presence and run-stopping power after 18 tackles and a blocked kick in 2025. Francis Brewu (DT, Pitt*) joined as a rising sophomore with two years of eligibility, the explosive 6-2, 280-pound interior lineman reuniting with defensive line coach Charlie Partridge after earning Honorable Mention All-ACC honors in 2025 (36 tackles, 7 TFL, 1 sack, 2 QB hurries); his quick first step and strength against the run make him an immediate rotational piece with starter potential on the interior.
These prospects, combined with the initial four, strengthen depth and talent as the portal window nears its close.
Outlook
These departures and additions reflect the competitive nature of roster management in modern college football, with several young players seeking immediate playing time and the program simultaneously looking for instant-impact talent. Notre Dame's defense, in particular, takes a hit in the secondary and along the line, but the program's strong recruiting classes and potential portal additions could fill the gaps quickly. Freeman has emphasized building through high school talent while selectively using the portal, and with the window still open, expect the Irish to make moves on both sides.
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