Ranking Notre Dame's Most Impactful Transfers for 2025-26

The bulk of Notre Dame's roster in the 2025 season is homegrown talent, but Marcus Freeman has supplemented those players with talented transfers once again. Below, I predict who I think will have the biggest impact during the 2025-26 season.

Photo by The Irish Tribune

1. Jared Dawson - Defensive Tackle

   
   

   Dawson comes to Notre Dame after playing a total of 38 games for the Louisville Cardinals, a team that has become somewhat of a rival for Notre Dame. I do not think Dawson is the most talented transfer Notre Dame landed, but I do believe he has a good chance to be the most impactful. This is mainly due to the position he plays. Defensive tackle was an important position for Notre Dame to upgrade after Howard Cross III and Rylie Mills moved on to the NFL. Their departures left the position a little barren, and Dawson certainly looks the part in terms of a replacement. He does not seem to be the pass rusher that Cross and Mills were, but he is plenty talented to be a physical presence in the middle of the defense to eat up blocks and stop the run. Notre Dame will have plenty of pass-rushing ability on the edge, so Dawson's role will be well-defined and manageable. Even so, it will be critical that he serves his role well, as they will play a lot of teams that will want to establish the run against their aggressive defense.

2. Malachi Fields - Wide Receiver

   
   

   Fields is probably the most exciting player Notre Dame was able to land in the transfer portal, as he makes his way from Virginia to Notre Dame. Fields was regarded as one of the best wide receivers in the portal after putting up 808 yards and five touchdowns for an offense that struggled all year. Fields is a freak of an athlete, standing at 6'4" and 220 pounds, he offers a huge target on the outside, paired with great speed. He is a perfect target on the boundaries and in the red zone. The other important thing he brings to the Irish offense is parity. Jaden Greathouse, Jordan Faison, Will Pauling, and other receivers on this team offer great route running and reliable hands, but lack some of that athleticism and size that sets players apart. If he continues to progress, he is fully capable of raising the ceiling of this offense with his explosive playmaking, especially with a more polished passer at the helm.

3. DeVonta Smith - Defensive Back

   
   

   Another huge part of Notre Dame's portal haul is DeVonta Smith. Smith comes by way of the University of Alabama as a senior. Smith is slotted to primarily play at the nickel, but that is always subject to change. Smith brings in a wealth of experience to a younger defensive back group, especially after playing in the SEC. Smith will be paired with Leonard Moore and Christian Gray, which should help ease the pain of losing players like Benjamin Morrison, Xavier Watts, and Jordan Clark in the secondary. Like I said before, the most value he may bring to this secondary is his experience, but that doesn't mean he can't produce. He is a proven commodity in one of the most skilled conferences in the country, and he can keep up with the nation's best receivers. Smith had five pass breakups last season and will hopefully provide the same nose for the football. He is also a willing tackler, which is always an important skill to have for an aggressive defense that demands discipline.

4. Noah Burnette - Kicker

   
   

   Special teams is usually an underrated aspect of a football team, but I think last year showed just how important it can end up being. Burnette transferred to Notre Dame after spending three years kicking for North Carolina. He has had a bit of an up-and-down career so far, kicking anywhere from 95% to 71%. If he can reach anywhere near the production he saw during his junior year, where he kicked at 95%, Notre Dame will certainly have an easier decision-making process on fourth downs. A reliable kicker is sometimes underrated, but it allows an offense to not take unnecessary risks and miss out on easy points.

5. Jalen Stroman - Safety

   
   

   The Virginia Tech transfer, Jalen Stroman, has a chance to give this already talented defense a huge boost in 2025. Stroman is currently still trying to rehab from shoulder surgery, so ensuring he is healthy for when the season kicks off will be priority number one. When he does get healthy, Stroman will bring a new level of physicality to this defense. He is a hard-hitting safety who is not afraid to deliver big hits in the passing and running game. With Adon Shuler, Notre Dame should have no problem in the physicality and athleticism department at the safety position. That is where Stroman's biggest impact will be. He does not have great coverage skills as a defensive back, but there is no denying his ability to tackle and make an impact with his physical brand of football.

6. Will Pauling - Wide Receiver

   
   

   Notre Dame's wide receiver coach, Mike Brown, has been reunited with one of his former players, Will Pauling, after stints with Cincinnati and Wisconsin. Pauling will surely have an impact on this team, with his elite-level route running and great set of hands. Pauling has played a lot of football throughout his career, so he is also bringing with him a wealth of experience to a pretty young wide receiver group. His familiarity with Brown's coaching will also give him a leg up in terms of development and comfort. Pauling has dealt with injuries throughout his career, but when he is healthy, he is an excellent slot player who is great at working the middle of the field. That skillset is incredibly important for any receiver, especially for one playing with a young quarterback. At his best, he can give Kenny Minchey or CJ Carr a reliable and dynamic option in the middle of the field.

7. Elijah Hughes - Defensive Tackle

   
   

   Former Trojan Hughes will now be playing for Notre Dame after playing a total of 15 games for USC during his freshman and sophomore years. Although he played in a fair number of games, he has not seen a whole lot of snaps in his career thus far. It is still unclear how much time Hughes will see on the field, but he will offer depth to a position that Notre Dame saw injuries in 2024. With the 12-team playoff, depth is more important than ever. The season is now much longer, while also playing more skilled and physical teams if Notre Dame makes it to the CFP once again. Notre Dame had to rely on depth for much of last year, so Hughes may see playing time if that depth is called upon again in 2025.

8. Ty Washington - Tight End

   
   

   Speaking of good depth, Ty Washington will also be a solid depth piece at tight end. Washington transferred in from Arkansas after playing three seasons for the Razorbacks. Washington is a long and athletic tight end who projects to be a viable passing threat as he continues to progress. The most important thing for Washington is progress in the offseason, as he has not played all that much football for being in college for three seasons. This is partly due to a shoulder injury in 2023 and being dismissed from the team in 2024. Like Hughes, it is unclear where Washington fits in with the rest of the tight ends on the roster, but Washington's athleticism is a very useful asset at the position and is what could allow him to see the field in 2025.

Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun