Tribune+ Exclusive: Where the Irish Stand with Portal DL Targets
- Ruben Kelly Ysasi
- 21 minutes ago
- 5 min read
As the transfer portal window heats up in early January 2026, Notre Dame's defensive line has emerged as the program's most pressing area of need heading into the upcoming season. Significant attrition, including the retirement of veteran captain Donovan Hinish, the departure of edge rusher Joshua Burnham to Indiana, and the entry into the portal of rising interior lineman Armel Mukam, has left the Irish thin up front. Mukam, a former top-200 recruit in the 2023 class who played in all 12 games in 2025, was poised for a larger role but entered the portal on January 1 seeking opportunities elsewhere with two years of eligibility remaining. As with any portal entry, players retain the option to withdraw and return to their original school before finalizing a new commitment, which has surfaced as a possibility for Mukam.
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