Position Breakdown: A Look into Notre Dame's Revamped Wide Receiver Group
- Noah Wehby
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
To pair with an elite QB like CJ Carr, Notre Dame may finally have the wide receiver group to put real fear into opponents, thanks to returning talent and exciting newcomers.
For a time, the receiving group at Notre Dame has left something to be desired. While there were stronger groups and players, there has not been a steady stream of talent year after year. In 2026, that may change, as Notre Dame looks to have a plethora of talented options at the position that includes returning players and new transfers.
Main Contributors
Jordan Faison
Jordan Faison has been one of the Irish's most consistent offensive players for the past two years. Over those two seasons, Faison has thrived as a crafty, elusive playmaker in the middle of the field. With sure hands, he is a reliable target for Carr. With such a dangerous skill set, he consistently gets open and has the ability to extend every play after the catch.
This season, he is slotted to be the main target of the offense. With the offense likely becoming more of a passing attack, Faison will be put in a lot of advantageous positions to make plays. Faison does lack the ability to truly beat defenses over the top, but that is not what he is mainly asked to do. Instead, he works underneath as a short-to-intermediate route-runner looking to extend drives.
Last Season Stats: 49 rec | 640 yards | 4 TDs
Jaden Greathouse
Jaden Greathouse has had a bit of a roller-coaster career during his time in South Bend. In 2024, he showed real glimpses of stardom. Those glimpses hit their pinnacle in the CFP, where Greathouse became the hero of the Orange Bowl against Penn State. He then followed up that performance with another special game in the National Championship. While Notre Dame's offense was quiet for most of the game, Greathouse broke out in the second-half, giving them a chance to win late in the game. After what appeared to be a breakout season, he unfortunately struggled with a hamstring injury that kept him out for most of 2025.
Now, Greathouse returns with the expectations of being a main producer for the offense once again. He possesses enough speed and a knack for locating deep passes, making him one of the Irish's best deep threats. The main thing Greathouse will have to contend with is consistency. While his talent is undeniable, he can disappear at times. For Notre Dame to hit their full potential, he must be a threat that defenses are constantly worried about, as he does have the ability to break a game open.
Last Season Stats: 4 rec | 73 yards | 0 TDs
Mylan Graham
Mylan Graham is one of two Ohio State transfers coming in this season who appears ready to take this group to the next level. He comes to Notre Dame as a former five-star recruit. After spending a year at Ohio State, Graham now becomes a weapon for Carr in an offense in need of talent like himself.
As a player, Graham has some elite traits that could turn him into Notre Dame's best receiving threat. The first thing that is apparent with Graham is his speed and acceleration, especially off the line of scrimmage. He explodes into his routes, making it hard for any defender to stay in stride. After that, he uses his fluid and precise route-running ability to create space to get open. To pair this with his 6'1" frame, Graham has all the necessary tools to become a great player in this Irish offense. He does have the versatility to play on the outside or work in the slot, giving OC Mike Denbrock options to move him around the field.
Last Season Stats: 6 rec | 93 yards | 0 TDs
Role Players
Micah Gilbert
Micah Gilbert could easily be in the "main contributors" group, but the potential of Graham could result in Gilbert's role becoming more limited. Gilbert finally broke onto the scene in 2025, scoring the first Notre Dame touchdown of the season against Miami. While that was an early indicator that Gilbert was ready to take a significant jump, Gilbert struggled to see meaningful snaps throughout the season, even with Greathouse's injury.
This season, Gilbert will once again be competing for playing time, as it is a deep position group. Gilbert appears to be best suited on the boundary, where he can use his great size to win contested catches and position himself along the sideline. Standing at 6'2", Gilbert is a tall target with solid speed, presenting potential matchup problems for opposing cornerbacks. Gilbert has provided good depth for the offense in past seasons. This year, the question will be if he can finally crack into significant playing time.
Last Season Stats: 9 rec | 93 yards | 1 TD
Quincy Porter
Quincy Porter is the second half of the Ohio State receiving tandem who transferred to Notre Dame in the winter. As a former five-star, Porter possesses immense talent, but like Graham, he is still relatively unproven. During his time at Ohio State, he struggled to see the field as part of the best WR group in the country. Now, he will battle to prove himself as a trusted and reliable part of this offense.
Porter is the most physically impressive player of the entire group. It is clear why he was one of the most coveted players in his class based purely on his physical traits. Standing at 6'4" and 215 lbs, Porter is a monster at the position, who uses that size to shield defenders from the ball and to win deep balls downfield. As if that was not enough, Porter moves surprisingly well at his size, possessing a rare combination of elite size and speed. For Irish fans, Porter may remind them a lot of 2025 Notre Dame star Malachi Fields, with possibly better athleticism. Porter has been battling an injury this off-season, which could set him back at the start of the season, but he does have the potential and athleticism to be a focal point of the offense by season's end.
Last Season Stats: 4 recs | 59 yards | 0 TDs
Cam Williams
Cam Williams is a player Irish fans have been waiting on for a long time to finally break out. Williams came to Notre Dame as a highly rated prospect who seemed primed to make a big impact early. While that has not been the case, there is still a lot of untapped potential for Williams. Now, as a Junior, Williams has had years to familiarize himself with the offense and Carr, which could be all he needs to see playing time in 2026.
Like the other players in this group, Williams offers great size and speed for the position; listed as 6'2", he is another big target for Carr to get the ball to. Williams pairs his size with smooth route-running, making him a potential handful for opposing teams.
Last Season Stats: 1 rec | 6 yards | 0 TDs
Reserves
Outside of these two groups, Notre Dame has a lot more exciting young players waiting in the wings. While it is still unclear if any of these players will be featured in the offense, they do provide excellent depth at the position and represent the group's promising future. In past years, players of their caliber would have likely seen playing time, but Notre Dame has been able to build a talented and deep WR room in 2026 that may limit the amount of time these players are on the field:
Logan Saldate
Elijah Burress
Jerome Bettis Jr.
Kaydon Finely
Bubba Frazier
Devin Fitzgerald
Matt Jeffery
Brayden Robinson
Dylan Faison
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If you had to put money on it Does ND have an 800 yd receiver reg szn