Notre Dame Going Shopping: Transfer Portal Wish List
- Brenden Duffy
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Photo via Michigan State University Athletics
Following Notre Dame’s decision to opt out of a bowl game after being snubbed from the CFP, the Irish’s offseason has begun a bit earlier than everyone would have hoped. Ideally, Marcus Freeman and staff are using this extra free time to scour the ever-growing transfer portal. Below are three players currently in the transfer portal that the Irish should be targeting:
Wake Forest DL Mateen Ibirogba
According to 247 Sports Transfer Portal Rankings, Ibirogba is rated as the #3 overall transfer and #1 DL. With Jared Dawson and Gabriel Rubio definitely on their way out, DT is a need for Notre Dame during this cycle, and it would not be surprising if they add more than one player for this position.
So why not the best available option? Although Ibirogba did not record a start this season at Wake Forest, he was a key contributor, and arguably the most talented, in a four-man rotation at the DT spots. In 12 games played this year, he recorded 21 tackles, 3.5 TFLs, two sacks, one forced fumble, and added a blocked kick on special teams. While the Irish could probably use more of a true run-stopper, Ibirogba’s all-around game is hard to pass on. His 26 QB pressures this season were 4th on the team and 2nd among DTs, as a “backup.” He was pretty solid against the run this season, coming up with nine stops and just two missed tackles against rushers.
The Maryland native spent his first two years of college football at Georgetown before transferring to Wake Forest in 2024. Ibirogba did not play much in ‘24, appearing in just four games. However, he proved he can compete with just about anybody this season and would likely be an immediate impact transfer for the Irish. Ibirogba stands at 6-3 and 296 pounds, and has one year of eligibility remaining.
Michigan State WR Nick Marsh
While the WR depth at Notre Dame is the best it has been in years, the addition of Marsh to replace Malachi Fields would be huge for the Irish offense and QB CJ Carr. The Spartan transfer is rated as the #9 overall transfer and #2 WR, per 247 Sports. Marsh would be an unusual transfer for Notre Dame, given he is still just a sophomore, but things are always changing in this sport, and the opportunity to bring in a legitimate WR1 is worthy of evolving the program in today's game.
Marsh made an immediate impact at MSU as a freshman, leading the team in receiving yards with 649 across 41 receptions, including three touchdowns. His receptions and receiving yards numbers both broke MSU true freshman records.
The 6-3, 203-pound Detroit-native became the clear-cut WR1 in East Lansing this fall when he led the team with 59 catches, 662 yards, and six receiving touchdowns. Marsh earned an honorable mention All-Big Ten nod after recording at least two catches in each game this season.
With two years of eligibility remaining, the chance to pair someone of Marsh’s caliber with the young Carr could end up being a special connection that Irish fans remember for a while.
Cincinnati DB Christian Harrison
This would be my veteran, experienced nickelback replacement for DeVonta Smith to compete with sophomore Dallas Golden in the fall. Notre Dame loves their players with NFL lineage, and it does not get much better than the son of the current semifinalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame’s 2026 Class, Rodney Harrison.
Christian Harrison currently ranks as the #81 overall transfer and #12 DB, per 247 Sports. The Atlanta native stands at 6-0, 195 pounds, with one year of eligibility remaining. Harrison spent three seasons at Tennessee, where he made four starts across 25 games played, before transferring to Cincinnati in 2025.
Harrison received, and made the most of, his new starting role with the Bearcats this past fall. While starting all 12 games, he recorded 66 tackles (tied for 3rd-most on the team), 2.5 TFLs, seven PBUs (led team), and one interception (Cincinnati had two interceptions as a team this season). Harrison had two games with 10 tackles and showed out with double-digit tackles and an interception against Utah.
The DB has proven his versatility, taking snaps at slot corner and SS this season. He was solid against the run with eight stops but is better in coverage, as highlighted by his seven PBUs. In coverage, Harrison allowed 45 receptions for 380 yards and one touchdown across 61 targets.
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