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Notre Dame Women’s Basketball has received its second transfer portal commitment, this time coming from Princeton Senior Madison St. Rose. Photo via Princeton Athletics The Princeton Graduate transfer currently ranks as the #15 overall transfer, according to ESPN’s Charlie Creme. St. Rose joins the Irish as a 5-10 Guard with one year of eligibility remaining. St. Rose has called New Jersey home her whole life. She attended St. John Vianney HS where she was rated as the #46 overall recruit in the 2022 ESPNW High School Player Rankings. St. Rose took home plenty of hardware during high school days, including the ‘22 NJ Gatorade Player of the Year, two-time NJ MaxPreps Player of the Year, three-time NJ.com Player of the Year, and three-time State Champion. The highly-touted recruit had her run-ins with the ‘23 Gatorade Player of the Year, Hannah Hidalgo, as in-state rivals and St. Rose even bested Hidalgo’s squad on her way to her third consecutive title.  Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Despite having her pick of some of the top programs nationally, St. Rose made the choice best for her and stayed home with the Ivy League powerhouse Princeton Tigers out of high school. She impressed in her freshman season where she was named the Ivy League Rookie of the Year after posting 8.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 0.7 assists, and 0.9 steals per game in 25 minutes per game across 30 games played, including 21 starts. St. Rose took an impressive jump in her sophomore season as a full-time starter, averaging 31.1 minutes per game and not missing a contest. She was named Second Team All-Ivy after averaging 14.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, 1.3 assists, & 1.7 steals per game. St. Rose was later named to the Ivy League All-Tournament Team after leading the Tigers with 18 points in the Championship. She also led her squad with 22 points in their NCAA Tournament appearance despite falling to West Virginia in a 1st Round matchup.  The guard’s junior season did not go as smoothly as her first two years after suffering a season-ending torn ACL in the team’s fourth game. Before her injury, St. Rose recorded her first career double-double with a 22-point and 12-rebound performance on the road at Duquesne.  If you watched St. Rose this past season, you probably would not have guessed she underwent major knee surgery the year prior. The senior started all 28 games she played and did not miss a beat, averaging a career-high 31.8 minutes per game while posting an All-Ivy First Team season. St. Rose averaged 15.8 points (48% FG%), 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.1 steals per game this year. Again, she led the Tigers' scoring efforts in their NCAA Tournament appearance with 17 points as they fell to Oklahoma State in the 1st Round. St. Rose’s best scoring night came in a regular season win against Brown where she recorded 30 points on 9-15 shooting from the field, 3-5 from three, and 9-9 from the free throw line. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle As with most Princeton Women’s Basketball players for about the past 16 years, the Tigers have a winning aptitude and St. Rose brings some of that to a Notre Dame roster that only returns one active player from this season’s Elite Eight squad . During her time at Princeton, St. Rose’s squads compiled a 96-23 overall record with four consecutive NCAA Tournament appearances.  The assumed backcourt starting duo of Hidalgo and St. Rose should see massive success together. Obviously, both of these New Jersey guards are capable of creating offense by themselves. However, with Hidalgo expected to draw the toughest defender each night, this opens the door for St. Rose to benefit from some open looks she likely has not seen since her freshman season. Defensively, good luck to opposing guards with these two trying to pick your pocket every single possession.  The biggest tool St. Rose could add to her bag, in my opinion, is a more consistent three-point shot. She is a career 30% shooter from deep and shot just under 28% this past season. Notre Dame’s offense was at its best this season when shooters like Vanessa de Jesus and Iyana Moore were able to get hot from three and force defenses to extend themselves. Regardless, St. Rose has the skills and motor to pursue a WNBA career following her final campaign. At the same time, she will also hold an Ivy League Bachelor's and a potential Notre Dame Master's, so her future opportunities should be boundless. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Notre Dame Men's Basketball and Head Coach Micah Shrewsberry have their hands full this offseason following the departure of six players to the transfer portal and just eight players on the roster heading into the portal's opening on April 7th. Keep track of all the latest news and rumors from what will be a chaotic cycle below: Incoming Transfers: Notre Dame can add up to seven transfers this cycle. We will keep you updated with the latest news here. Logan Duncomb (Winthrop) Senior 6-10, 230-lb C Averaged 18.3 ppg (60% FG%) , 8.9 rpg, 1.6 apg, 0.8 spg, & 0.8 bpg this season - started 28 of 32 games Big South Conference Player of the Year Led NCAA in points per 40 mins & player efficiency rating Former Indiana transfer Cincinnati native The Bearcats are also a reported factor in Duncomb’s transfer Read more here Ethan Roberts (Penn) Senior 6-5, 195-lb G/F Career averages in 81 games played (79 starts; 30 mpg): 15 ppg (39% 3FG%) , 4.6 rpg, 1.8 apg, & 0.8 spg 2025-26 All-Ivy Second Team Former Army transfer Arlington Heights, IL native Read more here Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Transfer Outs: Sir Mohammed Notre Dame’s first intended portal entry comes from the sophomore guard and son of former NBA PF Nazr Mohammed. The North Carolina native announced his intentions to enter the portal on March 24th. This season, Mohammed played in all 31 games with five starts, averaging 16.3 minutes per game. In his time on the court, Mohammed averaged 5.7 ppg (42% FG%) , 2.6 rpg, 1.5 apg, and 0.5 spg. As a former top four-star recruit with NBA bloodlines, Sir unfortunately was unable to develop into the player fans were hoping for during his time in South Bend. Mohammed has two years of eligibility remaining. Garrett Sundra > James Madison Just hours after Mohammed’s announcement, the sophomore forward announced his intentions to enter the transfer portal on the 24th. Sundra played in all 31 games this season with 16 starts, averaging 17.9 minutes per game. The Virginia native averaged 3.5 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 0.5 apg, 0.4 bpg, and 0.2 spg this year. Sundra entered Notre Dame as a three-star recruit and now leaves with two years of eligibility remaining. For the Irish, losing size is not ideal, but he rarely looked comfortable on the court in Coach Shrewsberry’s system. I believe Sundra could become a very solid player in the right situation as he has flashed some offensive promise, but this loss ranks near the bottom for Notre Dame.  Ryder Frost One day after Mohammed and Sundra announced their decisions, the freshman forward declared his intentions to enter the transfer portal on March 25th. Frost appeared in 26 games this season, averaging 6.2 minutes per game. In his limited playing time, he averaged 2.7 ppg (38.5% 3FG%), 0.8 rpg, and 0.2 apg. A former four-star recruit out of New Hampshire, there is not much to write home about regarding Frost. However, I personally really like his offensive potential and, deservedly, should have plenty of suitors in the portal.  Jalen Haralson > Tennessee After a fairly quiet week around the program, with the only relevant news being the return of freshman forward Brady Koehler, the Irish took, arguably, their biggest portal loss on April 2nd. Haralson, a freshman guard, officially declared his intentions to transfer with the portal’s opening less than a week away. Haralson made 23 starts in 27 appearances, averaging 26.6 minutes per game as the offensive leader following Markus Burton’s season-ending injury. The former consensus five-star recruit averaged 16.2 ppg (51.5% FG%) , 4 rpg, 2.6 apg, 0.5 spg, and 0.3 bpg. In a season marked by fantastic freshmen across the country, the Irish’s star was just one of six in a power conference to average at least 16 points, 4 rebounds, and 2.5 assists per game. Additionally, his 16.2 ppg were the 4th-most by a freshman in Notre Dame history, and his 2.6 apg led the team when Burton was out with injury. Haralson still stands as the highest-rated prospect to commit to Notre Dame in the modern history of the program as he was the top-ranked prospect in Indiana. According to South Bend Tribune Journalist Tom Noie , Notre Dame was unable to meet the financial threshold to retain Haralson as the Irish continue to struggle in this NIL era. Expect Haralson to be highly sought after by nearly every major program, with a substantial pay raise on the way for the potential future NBA player with three years of eligibility remaining. Markus Burton > Indiana The Irish lost their hometown boy on April 4th, when the junior guard posted a short but thoughtful message to his Instagram story thanking Notre Dame while announcing his intentions to enter the transfer portal. Coming out of Penn High School in Mishawaka, less than six miles from South Bend, Burton was questionably underrecruited despite being named 2023 Indiana Mr. Basketball as a three-star prospect. Despite being undersized, Burton burst right onto the scene in his freshman season. In his first year, the guard’s 17.5 ppg and 2.2 spg led all ACC freshmen, earning ACC Rookie of the Year and an All-ACC Third Team selection. Burton was the only freshman in the country to average at least 17 points, 4 assists, and 1.9 steals per game. The Irish star topped these efforts in his sophomore season when his 21.3 ppg ranked 5th nationally, while his 23.5 ppg against ACC opponents led the conference. He was controversially named to the All-ACC Second Team despite leading the conference in scoring. Entering his junior season at Notre Dame, Burton was a preseason All-ACC First Team selection with expectations having risen for the Irish. Unfortunately, the star guard suffered a left ankle injury in the team’s 10th game this past season that required surgery and ultimately forced him to miss the remainder of the year. While playing 30.1 minutes per game with 10 starts, Burton averaged 18.5 ppg (48.9 FG% & 91.7 FT% - career-highs), 3.7 apg, 2.8 rpg, and 1.6 spg. After sticking it out for three ‘down’ seasons when he could have easily transferred after his freshman and sophomore campaigns, Notre Dame now loses their best offensive and, arguably, defensive player. Like Haralson, Burton should have his pick of the litter in the portal and expect a well-deserved payday with two years of eligibility remaining pending a medical waiver. Cole Certa > Clemson The final entrant into this offseason’s portal from Notre Dame comes from the Irish’s "Certafied" shooter who announced his intentions to leave the program on April 6th. Certa enters the portal with two years of eligibility remaining following a breakout 2026 campaign. The sophomore guard averaged 26.8 minutes per game, appearing in all 31 contests with 16 starts. Certa averaged 12.8 ppg (36.7% 3FG% & 89.2% FT%), 1.7 rpg, 0.8 apg, and 0.4 spg while ending the season on a nine-game streak of 10-plus point outings. The former four-star recruit out of Illinois entered the transfer portal with a do-not-contact tag, likely meaning a future home has been decided. Certa’s high-level shooting mixed with underrated defensive play should be valued at a premium in the portal as he will land at a top program. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Interest Tracker: We will keep you up to date with any reported portal interest that arises below: Christian Humphrey-Rembert (Lafayette College) Freshman 6’9, 205-lb F Averaged 7.7 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 0.5 apg, 0.6 bpg, & 0.4 spg - started 31 of 32 games 1 of 20 DI players to record at least 50-plus 3-pointers made and 200-plus rebounds Grand Rapids, MI native Attended La Lumiere (IN) in 2022-23 Chance Gladden (Boston) Freshman 6-4, 185-lb G Averaged 14.4 ppg (48-35-87 shooting splits) , 4.5 apg, 3.2 rpg, & 0.7 spg - started 31 of 33 games Patriot League All-Rookie Team All-Patriot League Third Team Raleigh, NC native Plans to visit Ole Miss & Notre Dame the week of 04/13, per Kayser Has held a Zoom meeting with NC State Chevalier “Ice” Emery (Cleveland State) Junior 6-0, 183-lb G Averaged 12.7 ppg (46% FG% & 38% 3FG%) , 2 apg, 1.2 rpg, 0.4 spg, & 0.2 bpg in 33 games played this season (21.9 mpg off the bench - 1 start) Horizon League 6th Man of the Year Former Merrimack and Western Carolina transfer Spent sophomore season at JUCO following limited playing time as a freshman at Merrimack Appleton, WI native Will have a Zoom meeting with Notre Dame the week of 04/13, per 247 Sports’ Dushawn London Shaw was able to confirm Emery and Notre Dame did meet early in the week Grant Randall (Quinnipiac) Sophomore 6-9, 195-lb F Averaged 11.4 ppg (46% FG%) , 6.6 rpg, 0.8 apg, 0.9 spg, & 0.7 bpg - started 31 of 32 games Queens, NY native Plans to visit Cincinnati & George Mason the week of 04/13, per Kayser Camren Hunter (Central Arkansas) Senior 6-3 G UCA Career Averages (32.4 mpg across 94 starts)  - 19.4 ppg (46% FG%) , 4.7 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.5 spg, & 0.4 bpg 2021-22 Atlantic Sun Conference Rookie of the Year 2022-23 All-Atlantic Sun Third Team 2025-26 A-Sun Player of the Year 2026 All-Atlantic Sun Tournament Team Transferred to Wisconsin for 2024-25, returned to UCA in 25-26 after limited playing time in one season in Madison Bryant, AR native Seeking an eligibility waiver to play this season from the NCAA - two seasons derailed by injury Has already met with Villanova, Auburn, NC State, & High Point, per Shaw Scheduling dates with Alabama, Notre Dame, & Ole Miss Will not take official visits until the waiver is passed Ryan Beasley (San Francisco) Junior 5-11, 180-lb G Averaged 13.6 ppg, 4.0 apg, 3.4 rpg, & 1.2 spg in 31 starts this season All-WCC Second Team 2023-24 WCC Freshman of the Year San Ramon, CA native Has visited Stanford already, per Kayser Planning visits with Washington & Notre Dame Prophet Johnson (Sacramento State) Senior 6-3, 195-lb G Averaged 18.2 ppg (47% FG% & 39% 3FG%) , 7.4 rpg, 3.7 apg, & 2.6 spg this season - started 29 of 30 games played All-Big Sky Second Team; led conference in steals and defensive rebounds Former Fairfield, Southern Utah, & Bellevue College transfer 2024-25 All-MAAC Third Team Dayton, OH native Will need an eligibility waiver from the NCAA for 2026-27 Braeden Smith (Gonzaga) Redshirt Junior 6-0, 170-lb G Averaged 5.1 ppg, 3.6 apg, 2.2 rpg, & 1.0 spg this season - started 18 of 35 games played (17.1 mpg) Former Colgate transfer 2022-23 Patriot League All-Rookie Team 2023-24 Patriot League Player of the Year 2024 Patriot League Tournament MVP Seattle, WA native Visiting Notre Dame the weekend of 04/17, per Shaw Has already visited Washington & Utah Portal Misses Tre Singleton (Northwestern) Freshman 6-8, 225-lb F Averaged 7.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg, 1.5 apg, 0.6 spg, & 0.6 bpg - started 31 of 34 games Jeffersonville, IN native Teammates with Cooper during Jeffersonville’s 2025 Championship season Four-star HS recruit Notre Dame was considered a finalist in his recruitment Highest-ranked recruit in Northwestern’s modern recruiting era Has announced his transfer to Iowa State Ryan Prather Jr. (Robert Morris) Redshirt Junior 6’5, 205-lb G/F Averaged 15.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 3.6 apg, & 0.9 spg in 33 starts this season All-Horizon League 2nd Team Led the country in assist/turnover ratio (4.44) Former Akron transfer Clarksburg, MD native Has announced his transfer to Iowa State Michael Cooper (Wright State) Freshman 6-3, 185-lb G Averaged 13.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.2 apg, 0.6 spg, & 0.2 bpg - started 15 of 31 games Helped lead team to Horizon League Championship and NCAA Tournament appearance Jeffersonville, IN native Won the Indiana 4A State Championship in 2025 at Jeffersonville HS Visiting April 10th-11th, according to ON3’s Jack Soble & Jamie Shaw Has announced his transfer to Cal Tyler Hendricks (Utah Valley) Redshirt Junior 6-6 G/F Averaged 11.8 ppg (49% FG% & 45% 3FG%) , 4.3 rpg, 1.9 apg, 1.2 spg, & 0.8 bpg in 28 starts this season Former UCF transfer Twin brother, Taylor, was the 9th overall pick in the 2023 NBA Draft and is currently on the Memphis Grizzlies Fort Lauderdale, FL native Has announced his transfer to Oklahoma Joel Foxwell (Portland) Freshman 6-1, 180-lb G Averaged 15.6 ppg, 6.5 apg, 4.3 rpg, & 1.5 spg in 34 starts this season All-WCC 1st Team 11th-most assists nationally Melbourne, Australia native Has announced his transfer to Arizona State ND Okafor (Washington State)  Redshirt Junior 6-10 F Averaged 11 ppg (58.3% FG%) , 5.7 rpg, 0.9 apg, 1.4 bpg (2nd in WCC) , & 0.5 spg in 32 starts this season All-WCC honorable mention Former Cal transfer Raised in Ireland Born in Nigeria Moved from Ireland at 15 to focus on basketball (spent time in Canada, Mexico, and the US before committing to Cal as a three-star recruit) Considering Notre Dame, DePaul, Georgetown, Ole Miss, & St. Mary’s, according to League Ready’s Sam Kayser Reportedly met with the Irish via Zoom on April 9th Has announced his transfer to Ole Miss Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

*Updated April 18th, 2026 Notre Dame continues to push hard to land elite talent in the class of 2027, and off the heels of another huge recruiting weekend, here are some names to be aware of on the defensive side of the ball. Photo by The Irish Tribune Edge KJ Green (5-star) 6-4 215lbs out of Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain Gap, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 72 nd  overall nationally and 9th overall at the Edge position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for annual Junior Day Event on March 21st Chris Whitehead (5-star) 6-4.5 230lbs out of Lloyd C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Virginia. He is ranked by 247 Sports 27 th  overall nationally and 4th overall at the Edge position. He holds 33 D1 offers. Abraham Sesay (4-star) 6-5 215lbs out of Downingtown East High School in Exton, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 63 rd  overall nationally and 8th overall at the Edge position. He holds 28 D1 offers. Visiting Notre Dame on April 18th Official visit set for June 19th Wyatt Smith (4-star) 6-6 235lbs out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 75th overall nationally and 10th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Aidan O’Neil (4-star) 6-5 240lbs out of Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, New Jersey. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 127th overall nationally and 15th overall at the Edge position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Announced Notre Dame in his Top 7 on 3/27/2026 Visit set for June 19th Chris Whitehead (5-star) 6-4.5 230lbs out of Lloyd C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Virginia. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 27 th  overall nationally and 4th overall at the Edge position. He holds 33 D1 offers. Frederick Ards (4-star) 6-5 225lbs out of Jones High School in Orlando, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 77 th  overall nationally and 11th overall at the Edge position. He holds 23 D1 offers.   Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Defensive Line David Folorunsho (4-star) 6-4 280lbs out of St. Patrick High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 103 rd  overall nationally and 13th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Visiting Notre Dame on April 18th Visit set for June 12th Brayden Parks (4-star) 6-3 305lbs out of Brother Rice High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 179th overall nationally and 20th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 41 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st Santana Harvey (4-star) 6-5 220lbs out of Lakeland High School in Lakeland, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 286th overall nationally and 34th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 34 D1 offers. Luke Starcevic (4-star) 6-5 250lbs out of Kindred High School in Kindred, North Dakota. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 218th overall nationally and 10th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 20 D1 offers. Joseph Buchanan (4-star) 6-4 260lbs out of McDonogh High School in Owings Mill, Maryland. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 221st overall nationally and 22nd overall at the defensive line position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Jon Ioane (4-star) 6-3 295lbs out of Tustin High School in Tustin, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 268th overall nationally and 13th overall as an ATH/defensive line position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Offered on Pot of Gold Day (3/17/2026) Alifeleti Tuihalamaka (4-star) 6-4 260lbs out of Oaks Christian High School in West Lake Village, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 254th overall nationally and 26th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 31 D1 offers.   Linebacker Kaden Henderson (4-star) 6-1.5 218lbs out of Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 24th overall nationally and 3rd overall at the linebacker position. He holds 41 D1 offers. Visiting Notre Dame on April 18th Named Notre Dame in his Top 5 schools (3/6/2026) Toa Satale (4-star) 6-3 200lbs out of Miliani High School in Miliani, Hawaii. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 60th overall nationally and 4th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Noah Glover (4-star) 6-1 205lbs out of Battlefield High School in Haymarket, Virginia. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 204th overall nationally and 16 th  overall at the linebacker position. He holds 29 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st Roman Igwebuike (4-star) 6-3 220lbs out of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 147th overall nationally and 11th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 43 D1 offers. Visiting Notre Dame on April 18th Set to visit Notre Dame on June 12th-14th Mikahi Allen (4-star) 6-1 220lbs out of Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, New Jersey. He is ranked by 247 Sports 215th overall nationally and 19th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 28 D1 offers. Antwoine Higgins (4-star) 6-3 2185lbs out of Anderson High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 386th overall nationally and 30th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 34 D1 offers. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Cornerback John Meredith III (5-star) 6-2 175lbs out of North Crowley High School in Fort Worth, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 2nd overall nationally and 1st overall at the cornerback position. He holds 42 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st Joshua Dobson (5-star) 6-1 185lbs out of Hough High School in Cornelius, North Carolina. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 11 th  overall nationally and 2nd overall at the cornerback position. He holds 29 D1 offers. Hayden Stapp (5-star) 6-3.5 185lbs out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 33 rd  overall nationally and 5th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 37 D1 offers. Tavares Harrington (4-star) 6-3 175lbs out of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 109 th  overall nationally and 13th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 42 D1 offers. Named Notre Dame in his Top 10 (3/11/2026) Visiting Notre Dame on April 18th Visit set for June 12th-14th Duvay Williams (4-star) 5-10.5 148lbs out of Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 178th overall nationally and 24th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 42 D1 offers. Safety Gavin Williams (4-star) 6-1 180lbs out of Damien High School in La Verne, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 151st overall nationally and 13th overall at the safety position. He holds 40 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on March 28th Zayden Gamble (4-star) 5-11 190lbs out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 195th overall nationally and 18th overall at the safety position. He holds 46 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st Named Notre Dame in his Top 4 schools (4/2/2026) Set commitment date for July 16th Jailen Hill (4-star) 6-2 170lbs out of St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 249th overall nationally and 21st overall at the safety position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Plans to visit Notre Dame this spring Athletes Xavier Sabb (5-star) 6-1 180lbs out of Glassboro High School in Glassboro, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 37th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the ath position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Marcus Fakatou (5-star) 6-6 275lbs out of Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 35 th  overall nationally and 2nd overall at the ath/defensive line position. He holds 36 D1 offers. Tee Walden Jr. (4-star) 6-2.5 165lbs out of Collierville High School in Collierville, Tennessee. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 125 th  overall nationally and 6th overall at the ath position. He holds 37 D1 offers. Corey Hadley, Jr. (4-star) 6-1 180lbs out of Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 86th overall nationally and 7th overall at the ath position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Brayton Feister (4-star) 6-3 230lbs out of Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron, Ohio. He is ranked by 247 Sports 132nd overall nationally and 7th overall at the ath position. He holds 31 D1 offers. Matthew Gregory (4-star) 6-1 170lbs out of Owen J Roberts High School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 108th overall nationally and 17th overall at the wr/ath position. He holds 26 D1 offers. Cade Cooper (4-star) 6-3 192lbs out of Malvern Prep High School in Malvern, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 339th overall nationally and 43 rd  overall at the wr/ath position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on March 28th Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @bruce_straughan  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

* Updated April 17th, 2026 Another turbulent week in the recruiting space results in more movement on the Big Board. Here are some offensive prospects to keep an eye on, and where they stand in their recruitments. As impressive as it is, Marcus Freeman and staff were able to top that; in fact, some say the 2026 class is the best in program history. Notre Dame looks to continue that momentum in the 2027 class and is already on their way with notable commitments like 4-star OT James Halter, 4-star CB Xavier Hasan, 4-star CB Ace Alston, 4-star S Khalil Terry, 4-star LB Amarri Irvin, and 4-star DL Richie Flanigan. Below are the Big Board Offensive Talents that Notre Dame has their eyes on: Quarterback   Peyton Houston (4-star) 5-10.5 200lbs out of Evangel Christian Academy High School in Shreveport, Louisiana. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 88 th  overall nationally and 8 th  overall at the quarterback position. He is currently committed to LSU (9/15/2025) and holds 31 D1 offers. Peter Bourque (4-star) 6-4 220lbs out of Tabor Academy in Marion, Massachusetts. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 84 th  overall nationally and 7 th  overall at the quarterback position. Decommitted from Michigan on February 17th, 2026. Unofficial visit to Notre Dame set for April 21st   Davin Davidson (4-star) 6-6.5 215lbs out of Cardinal Mooney High School in Sarasota, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 155 th  overall nationally and 13 th  overall at the quarterback position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on the weekend of March 21st-22nd Wonderful Monds IV (4-star) 6-2 224lbs out of Vero Beach High School in Vero Beach, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 212 th  overall nationally and 19 th  overall at the quarterback position. He currently holds 34 D1 offers. Unofficial visit to Notre Dame set for April 18th Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Running Back   Lathan Whisenton (4-star) 5-11 194lbs out of Waco Midway High School in Waco, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports ranked by 247 Sports as 299th overall nationally and 19th overall at the running back position. He holds 28 D1 offers. Committed to Notre Dame on 3/25/2026   Isaiah Rogers (4-star) 5-11 205lbs out of Springfield Central High School in Springfield, Massachusetts. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 238th overall nationally and 15th overall at the running back position. He holds 17 D1 offers. Committed to Notre Dame on 3/30/2026   Wide Receiver   Julius Jones (4-star) 5-10 175lbs out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Indiana. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 12th overall nationally and 68th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 44 D1 offers. Unofficial visit to Notre Dame set for April 10th-12th Official visit to Notre Dame set for June 11th-13th   Trenton Yancey (4-star) 5-10.5 190lbs out of Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 244th overall nationally and 32nd overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 39 D1 offers. Unofficially set to visit Notre Dame on April 18th   Quentin Burrell (4-star) 6-3 175lbs out of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports 73rd overall nationally and 14th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 38 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame 4/1/2026-4/2/2026 Remains a Top Target for Notre Dame Named Notre Dame in his Top 4 on April 15th     Tight End   Jaxon Dollar (5-star) 6-5 222lbs out of East Lincoln High School in Denver, North Carolina. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 36th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the tight end position. He holds 37 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on the annual Junior Day Event over the weekend of March 19th-21st Still considering Notre Dame in his recruitment   Jack Brown (4-star) 6-5 215lbs out of Francis Howell Central High School in St. Charles, Missouri. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 100th overall nationally and 5th overall at the tight end position. He holds 33 D1 offers. Committed to Missouri on 3/17/2026   Grant Haviland (4-star) 6-4 215lbs out of Milon High School in Alpharetta, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 275th overall nationally and 13th overall at the tight end position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Committed to Vanderbilt on April 15th Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Offensive Line   Mark Matthews (5-star) 6-5.5 300lbs out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 3rd overall nationally and 1st overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 35 D1 offers. Layton von Brandt (4-star) 6-6.5 281lbs out of Appoquinimink High School in Middleton, Delaware . He is ranked by 247 Sports as 62nd overall nationally and 6th overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 21 D1 offers. Unofficially visited Notre Dame on November 8th, 2025 Unofficially visited Notre Dame April 10-12th, 2026 Kennedy Brown (5-star) 6-4 285lbs out of Kingwood High School in Humble, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 8th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 45 D1 offers.   Albert Simien (5-star) 6-4 280lbs out of Sam Houston High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He is ranked by 247 Sports 14th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the interior offensive line position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st   Kellen Wymer (4-star) 6-5 265lbs out of Liberty Center High School in Liberty City, Ohio. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 82 nd  overall nationally and 6th overall at the interior offensive tackle position. He is currently committed to Ohio State as of (11/2/2025) and holds 15 D1 offers.   Cameron Wagner (4-star) 6-6 300lbs out of St. Joseph-Ogden High School in St. Joseph, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 317 th  overall nationally and 32nd overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 20 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st Named Notre Dame in his Top 4 on April 15th Set to officially visit Notre Dame on June 19th Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @bruce_straughan  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Notre Dame and Head Coach Niele Ivey have received their first transfer portal commitment of the cycle from former Louisville Cardinal, Anaya Hardy. Photo via University of Louisville Athletics Hardy, a 6-3 Sophomore Forward, enters Notre Dame with two years of eligibility remaining. Hardy hails from Detroit where she played at Renaissance HS and for Michigan Storm Elite AAU. After winning three straight Detroit Public School Championships, the forward committed to Louisville over Michigan and Syracuse. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! After seeing limited playing time as a freshman (2.5 mpg) , Hardy saw an increased role this past season as a sophomore. In 11.3 mpg across 35 games played, including 27 starts, she averaged 4.9 points and 4.2 rebounds per game as the Cardinals reached the Sweet 16. Hardy’s best performance came against Pitt in a January regular-season matchup, where the forward tallied a career-high 16 points (7-9 from the field) and three steals, while also adding nine rebounds in just 17 minutes played as the Cardinals dominated the Panthers. While Hardy will not be stretching out any defenses, she has flashed as a potent inside threat. Offensively, she shot 67% from the field (no threes attempted) and added 2.1 offensive rebounds per game. Defensively, she averaged 0.5 steals and 0.3 blocks per game this past season. This is probably where the most untapped potential lies. Hardy’s athleticism is one of her biggest draws, being hailed as an elite shot-blocker coming out of high school where she averaged four per game. With increased minutes in a more prominent role, expect Hardy’s steals and blocks numbers to steadily rise. Perhaps the most impressive part of her athletic lore is the fact that she has been able to dunk since high school, with some more recent evidence below.   Hardy blocks former Notre Dame F/C Liatu King as a freshman Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Following Hardy’s commitment to Notre Dame, expect Ivey and the Irish to now target an experienced guard to complement Hannah Hidalgo. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Notre Dame has secured their second addition from the portal, with Penn transfer Ethan Roberts announcing his decision to spend his final collegiate season in South Bend. Photo via University of Pennsylvania Athletics Roberts, a 6-5 and 195-pound G/F, joins the Irish as a senior transfer with one year of eligibility remaining.  Originally from Memphis, Roberts and his family relocated to Arlington Heights, IL prior to his junior year of high school. Roberts attended Hersey HS as an unranked recruit despite earning all-state selections. Coming out of high school with limited offers, he ultimately committed to Army over Navy, Lafayette College, and Southern Indiana (DII at the time) .   Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Roberts showed what schools across the country missed out on as a freshman, compiling a Patriot League Rookie of the Year season with 48-41-85 shooting splits. He averaged 12.4 points, 4.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 0.6 steals per game while starting 31 of his 33 games played. Following this successful freshman campaign, Roberts would enter the transfer portal. Roberts drew plenty of interest before committing to Drake for a variety of reasons including NIL, being closer to home, and the Bulldogs were coming off an NCAA Tournament appearance. Unfortunately, Roberts never had the chance to suit up at Drake after a series of physical and mental health battles derailed his year, highlighted in this feature article  from The Daily Pennsylvanian. Unsure of what would come next, Roberts once again entered his name into the portal following this scary year.  Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Penn was one of the few DI programs to reach out to Roberts in the portal as he decided to commit to the Quakers. In 2024-25, his first season at Penn, Roberts averaged 16.8 points, 5.6 rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 0.9 steals per game, starting all 25 games played with 43-37-82 shooting splits.  This past season, Roberts impressed again, averaging 16.9 points, 3.9 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and 1.0 steals per game across 23 starts (notably missed Ivy & NCAA Tournaments) . The senior earned All-Ivy Second Team honors as he shot 40% from three, and recorded six games with at least 25 points, including a career-high of 31 in a win against St. Joseph’s.   How Roberts’ game will translate to ACC play will be something to monitor. Without question, he will play a vital role on this season’s team, whether it be as a starter or a key reserve. This will likely be Cole Certa’s replacement, who recently announced his transfer to Clemson. Compared to Certa, I do think Roberts is a slightly better defender, but he may be a notch below his offensive skill level. In general, I think Roberts is a solid all-around player. One of my only concerns would be with his health, as it appears he has not played a complete season since his freshman year at Army. Injuries have been a theme in the Micah Shrewsberry era for Notre Dame and Roberts’ track record regarding availability is not perfect. Regardless, I expect his great three-point shooting (39% career) to carry over to South Bend while his defense will likely be tested against most high-major opponents. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Notre Dame Basketball and Head Coach Micah Shrewsberry have their work cut out for them this portal cycle, but the Irish have now landed their first transfer with Logan Duncomb announcing his commitment to South Bend. Photo via Winthrop University Athletics Duncomb, a Winthrop transfer, is rated as a four-star and top-20 Center in the portal, according to 247 Sports. The 6-10, 230-lb big reportedly chose Notre Dame over Cincinnati, with other private suitors likely involved. He enters South Bend as a Graduate Transfer with one year of eligibility remaining. Originally, Duncomb is a Cincinnati native and attended athletic powerhouse Archbishop Moeller, graduating in 2021. At Moeller, Duncomb was a part of the 2019 Ohio State Championship squad led by current New York Knick Deuce McBride. The next season saw Duncomb and Moeller on their way to a repeat title as the #1-ranked team in the state; however, COVID ultimately forfeited the season. As a senior in 2021, Duncomb was selected to the All-Ohio First Team and was rated as a consensus four-star and top-100 recruit in the country. Out of high school, Duncomb committed to Indiana over Wisconsin, Xavier, Ohio State, and others.  Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Duncomb’s time at Indiana was not ideal, really from the start. The four-star recruit had committed to Archie Miller’s Hoosiers before he was let go following the 2021 season. Being put in a tough situation, Duncomb remained loyal to Indiana and decided to stick it out with new HC Mike Woodson. The big man played in just 18 games across two seasons in Bloomington, primarily as a reserve, averaging 3.9 minutes per contest. He was able to flash some offensive potential with an impressive 70% FG% in his limited playing time. Duncomb missed the final 18 games of his sophomore season after undergoing sinus surgery. He would enter the portal following this season. After entering the portal, Duncomb wound up committing to Xavier, coached by Archie Miller’s brother, Sean. Unfortunately, the former Hoosier never suited up at Xavier after he stepped away from the program and basketball as a whole, prior to the season. You can read this article  from Basket Under Review, detailing Duncomb’s journey to finding his joy through basketball again.   Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Following this one-year reset, Duncomb found his passion again at Winthrop in 2024-25. In his first season with the Eagles, the big man appeared in 24 games off the bench, averaging 8 mpg. He was able to take advantage of his opportunities, though, averaging 3 points and 2.5 rebounds per contest while shooting 54% from the field.  This past season is where Duncomb’s stock really rose. He played in 32 games, recording 28 starts and 24.3 mpg. The Winthrop big man put together a Big South Conference Player of the Year season, averaging 18.3 points, 8.9 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 0.8 blocks, and 0.8 steals per game. He shot 60% from the field while leading the NCAA in points per 40 minutes and Player Efficiency Rating. Along with earning a nod on the Big South All-Tournament Team, Duncomb was also a finalist for the Lou Henson Award, given to the nation’s top mid-major player. His most notable game undoubtedly occurred on the road at Presbyterian, where Duncomb dropped a career-high 38 points to go along with 15 rebounds in a win. Game Highlights from Duncomb's 30-point & 15-rebound effort I would imagine Shrewsberry brought in Duncomb with the idea of him being the team’s starting five. As a great-elite post option, he should remain a constant double-double threat in the ACC. Duncomb has a great motor, is physical, and moves well for his size. Irish fans should not expect to see their new big man stretch out any offenses with his range, as he is just a 0-3 career shooter from deep. While this is not ideal in 2026, his interior game surrounded by 3-4 shooting options could open things up for the Irish. His defense will be tested against strong ACC opponents, but being Shrewsberry's most talented big man since he took over Notre Dame is appealing. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @Brenden_Duffy  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

After assembling one of the greatest classes in the last two decades this past cycle, Marcus Freeman looks to replicate his success on the recruiting trail in 2027. We will be continually updating this commitment tracker as more and more elite athletes pledge their commitment to the Fighting Irish. Photo by The Irish Tribune Offense James Halter - Offensive Tackle Ranking: 4-Star, 83rd Nationally ( 247Sports Composite ) Height/Weight: 6'6", 270 lbs Location: Pittsburgh, PA Notable Offers: Ohio State, Auburn, Indiana, Duke, North Carolina Stats: N/A Isaiah Rogers - Running Back Ranking: 4-Star, 236th Nationally ( 247Sports Composite ) Height/Weight: 5'11", 205 lbs Location: Springfield, MA Notable Offers: Florida, Florida State, Michigan, Penn State Stats: Junior season: 986 rushing yards in 10 games (7.8 yards per carry), 15 rushing TD, 401 receiving yards, 3 receiving TDs. (via Andrew Ivins) Lathan Whisenton - Running Back Ranking: 4-Star, 299th Nationally ( 247Sports Composite ) Height/Weight: 5'11", 194 lbs Location: Waco, TX Notable Offers: Oregon, Texas, Texas A&M, Florida, Michigan Stats: Junior season: 1,502 rushing yards in 11 games (9.1 yards per carry), 24 rushing TD, 102 receiving yards (MaxPreps) Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Defense Xavier Hasan - Cornerback Ranking: 4-Star, 38th Nationally ( 247Sports Composite ) Height/Weight: 5'11", 195 lbs Location: Raleigh, NC Notable Offers: Michigan, Penn State, Georgia, Miami, Ohio State Stats: Junior season: 17 total tackles, 3 interceptions, and 3 kickoff return TDs. (MaxPreps) Ace Alston - Cornerback Ranking: 4-Star, 85th Nationally ( 247Sports Composite ) Height/Weight: 5'11", 175 lbs Location: Cincinnati, OH Notable Offers: Miami, Florida, LSU, Ohio State, Oregon Stats: Junior season: 53 total tackles, 1.5 TFL, 16 PBU, 1 interception (via Andrew Ivins) Khalil Terry - Safety Ranking: 4-Star, 218th Nationally ( 247Sports Composite ) Height/Weight: 6'0", 185 lbs Location: Tustin, CA Notable Offers: Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State, Oregon Stats: Junior season: 62 total tackles, 1 sack, 4 interceptions. (MaxPreps) Amarri Irvin - Linebacker Ranking: 4-Star, 295th Nationally ( 247Sports Composite ) Height/Weight: 6'0", 220 lbs Location: Bradenton, FL Notable Offers: Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Ohio State, Oregon Stats: Junior season: 3 interceptions, 4 sacks (MaxPreps) Richie Flanigan - Defensive Line Ranking: 4-Star, 384th Nationally ( 247Sports Composite ) Height/Weight: 6'3", 265 lbs Location: Green Bay, WI Notable Offers: Michigan, Duke, Wisconsin, Stanford Stats: Sophomore season: 24 total tackles, 1 sack (MaxPreps) Special Teams Sean Kraft - Long Snapper Ranking: 3-Star, 1,411th Nationally ( 247Sports Composite ) Height/Weight: 6'4", 215 lbs Location: Swannanoa, NC Notable Offers: North Carolina, Wake Forest Stats: N/A Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1  Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

Notre Dame hasn’t touched a Heisman since 1987, or a national title since 1988. Jeremiyah Love has the numbers, the moments, and the aura to change that. In 2025, he isn’t just chasing yards, he’s chasing history. Graphic by The Irish Tribune The Irish line up, first and goal at the 2-yard line. 4th quarter. Tie game. Everything on the line. Riley Leonard sets up in shotgun with Jeremiyah Love at his hip. Across from them, a stacked box with 7 men crowding the line of scrimmage. Jaden Greathouse motions across the formation just before the ball is hiked. Leonard jumps to grab the high snap and hands the ball off to Love in one swift motion. That’s when time slows down. Love cuts left, bodies falling around him as he searches for space. A diving defender breaks through the line and spears his battered right knee. As his legs get taken out from underneath him, he goes airborne, planting a single hand on his opponent’s back — the only thing keeping him from going down. This is where the play should have ended. As he falls toward the ground, Love plants his foot on the turf, the rest of his body flailing, momentum sending him downward for a loss. Yet somehow, he rights himself, planting his other foot down and backpedaling towards the goal for just a second. He fights to stay upright before turning his shoulders back to his mission. Another defender meets him dead on, the collision standing him completely upright and driving him backward once more. This is where the play should have ended — but it doesn’t. Love powers into his opponent’s chest, breaking the stalemate and driving forward inch by inch. Just as he gains the edge, the flood arrives. A second defender lunges at his legs, another flying in over the top for a punch at the ball. He is completely engulfed — three men, six arms, a pile of momentum driving him down. This is where the play should have ended. But once again, it didn’t. With a man draped over his shoulders, he drives his legs into the ground and launches himself, with every last bit of determination in his tank, towards the goal line. Against all odds, Love lifts off the ground, fully horizontal, and dives with the ball at complete extension. And that’s where the play finally ends, with the ball breaking the plane, and the Irish taking the lead. This isn’t just a career-defining play; this is what Jeremiyah Love does — the impossible, again and again. Now, in 2025, Love carries that same mission against the impossible. The Irish ended last season in the National Championship, their first shot since 2012. They fell short. The drought stretches on — no title since 1988, no Heisman since Tim Brown in 1987. Both have seemed impossible at times. But with Jeremiyah Love in the backfield, Notre Dame finally has its best chance in decades to end at least one. The 2024 Breakout Season Every Heisman story begins with a breakout. For some players, it’s a gradual rise: a freshman spark, a sophomore step forward, a junior leap. For Jeremiyah Love, the jump came in Year Two, and it wasn’t just a step into the spotlight; it was an explosion that shook the Notre Dame record book. Love’s sophomore year wasn’t about chasing 30 carries a game like Ashton Jeanty or Derrick Henry. It was about squeezing the most out of every single touch, and more often than not, those touches ended in the end zone. On just 163 carries, Love stacked 1,125 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns, and he added 28 catches for 237 yards and 2 more scores. That’s 19 total TDs at a nasty 6.9 yards per carry — better per-carry juice than Derrick Henry’s Heisman year and right in the neighborhood of Reggie Bush’s highlight-reel prime. Jeremiyah Love — 2024 Season Stats Rush Yards: 1,125 (163 carries, 6.9 YPC, long of 98) Rush TDs: 17 (scored in 13 straight games — ND record) Rec Yards: 237 (28 receptions, 8.5 avg, long of 32) Rec TDs: 2 (Louisville, Army) Total TDs: 19 (2nd-most in single-season ND history, trailing only Jerome Bettis’ 20 in 1991) And it wasn’t empty numbers, it was moments. Against Virginia, when the passing game sputtered, Love carried the load with 137 yards and two scores. Against Army, he turned seven carries into 130 yards and three touchdowns, like he was playing backyard ball. In the playoff against Indiana, he ripped a 98-yard touchdown run that’s already legend in South Bend’s deep lore. And in the Orange Bowl vs Penn State, when it mattered most, he muscled in a score that showed his nose for the end zone never disappears, even against elite competition. That’s who he was all year: the guy who showed up when the lights were brightest. He scored in 13 straight games, setting a school record. He wasn’t a “volume back,” but he didn’t need to be. He was the efficiency assassin, waiting for his moment to strike and never missing when it came. National Context — The Elite Backs College football is a quarterback’s game now. The Heisman has gone to a quarterback in 21 of the last 24 seasons, and wide receivers have stolen the spotlight twice. Running backs, once the heartbeat of the award, are nearly extinct in the trophy race. Since 2000, only two have carried home the trophy: Reggie Bush in 2005 (later vacated) and Derrick Henry in 2015. That context makes Jeremiyah Love’s rise all the more remarkable. In 2024, the headlines were dominated by backs like Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, who racked up 1,916 rushing yards and 569 receiving yards, and UNC’s Omarion Hampton, who battered his way to All-American honors. Love didn’t lead the nation in yards. He didn’t need to. His efficiency and scoring punch kept him in their orbit while carrying fewer touches, and by season’s end, the whispers were already starting: this kid might be next. Now, entering 2025, the whispers are gone. Love is at the top of every list. ESPN, FOX, CBS — all of them have him as the nation’s consensus No. 1 running back. Top 5 Running Backs Heading into 2025 (ESPN) Jeremiyah Love — Notre Dame (1,125 rush yds, 19 total TDs, 6.9 YPC) Nicholas Singleton — Penn State (1,099 rush yds, 12 rush TDs, 375 rec yds, 5 rec TDs) Kaytron Allen — Penn State (1,108 rush yds, 8 TDs, 153 rec yds, 2 rec TDs) Makhi Hughes — Oregon (via Tulane) (1,401 rush yds, 15 TDs, 176 rec yds, 2 rec TDs) Isaac Brown — Louisville (emerging ACC star) That jump matters. In 2024, Love was an underrated sophomore. In 2025, he’s the consensus No. 1 back in America. That’s the kind of preseason narrative Heisman campaigns are built on. Notre Dame RB History & Records At Notre Dame, running backs aren’t just athletes; they’re lore. George Gipp. The Four Horsemen. Pinkett. Bettis. Denson. To play running back in South Bend is to carry not only the football but the weight of the past. It’s about more than production. It’s about becoming a chapter in a story written over a century. Jeremiyah Love is only two years in, and already, the numbers say he belongs in that story. His 1,125 rushing yards in 2024 didn’t quite crack the top 10 — but at just 67 yards shy, he’s right outside, chasing names like Ferguson and Walker. His 17 rushing touchdowns tie him for 2nd all-time in a single season, alongside Vagas Ferguson (’79) and Allen Pinkett (’83). And when you add in his two receiving scores, Love’s 19 total touchdowns rank 2nd in Notre Dame history, trailing only Jerome Bettis’ 20 in 1991. Notre Dame Single-Season Leaders (Selected Categories) Rushing Yards (Single Season) Vagas Ferguson — 1,437 (1979) Josh Adams — 1,430 (2017) Allen Pinkett — 1,394 (1983) Reggie Brooks — 1,343 (1992) Audric Estimé — 1,341 (2023) Julius Jones — 1,268 (2003) Autry Denson — 1,268 (1997) Darius Walker — 1,267 (2006) Darius Walker — 1,196 (2005) Vagas Ferguson — 1,192 (1978) — Jeremiyah Love — 1,125 (2024, just outside Top 10) Rushing TDs (Single Season) Audric Estimé — 18 (2023) T-2. Vagas Ferguson — 17 (1979) T-2. Allen Pinkett — 17 (1983) T-2. Jeremiyah Love — 17 (2024) T-3. Jerome Bettis — 16 (1991) Total TDs (Single Season) Jerome Bettis — 20 (1991) Jeremiyah Love — 19 (2024) Allen Pinkett — 18 (1983, 1984) What does this mean? That Love, with just one season as the feature back, already sits shoulder-to-shoulder with Notre Dame’s immortals. Bettis, Pinkett, Ferguson, Estimé, Love’s name is already etched beside theirs. And yet, the most important thing is what comes next. Notre Dame running backs aren’t remembered for one good season. They’re remembered for their careers, for consistency, for carrying the Irish through entire eras. Love’s 2024 was the spark. 2025 is the chance to turn it into a fire - the kind that makes history. Career Trajectory vs Irish Legends When you measure a running back at Notre Dame, you don’t just look at the single season. You look at the arc. Can he sustain greatness? Can he stack seasons? Can he climb the mountain that Autry Denson and Allen Pinkett once climbed? Through two years, Jeremiyah Love’s arc looks historic. He’s already at 1,510 career rushing yards and 22 total touchdowns. By comparison, Josh Adams, who nearly earned a Heisman invite in 2017, had fewer touchdowns at the same point. Darius Walker, Julius Jones, and even Vagas Ferguson all trail Love’s current pace. The only names who matched him in scoring punch were Allen Pinkett and Jerome Bettis, two of the program’s all-time great finishers. Jeremiyah Love Career Projection (if he repeats 2024 production) 2023: 385 rush yds, 2 TD (career: 385 / 2) 2024: 1,125 rush yds, 19 TD (career: 1,510 / 21) 2025*: ~1,200 rush yds, ~19 TD (career: ~2,710 / 40) 2026*: ~1,200 rush yds, ~19 TD (career: ~3,910 / 59) The math is staggering. If Love repeats his 2024 production over the next two seasons, he’ll graduate with nearly 3,900 career rushing yards (Top 3 all-time) and 59 total touchdowns, smashing Pinkett’s long-standing career TD record of 53. This is what separates Love from “great back” to “greatest ever” territory. By the end of 2025, he could already be in the Top 5 in touchdowns and yards with a senior season still to come. By the end of 2026, he could be Notre Dame’s all-time touchdown king, and within striking distance of Autry Denson’s rushing yardage crown. In other words, Love doesn’t just belong in the conversation with Notre Dame’s greatest. He’s on pace to eclipse them. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Heisman Benchmarks — What It Takes The Heisman has always been cruel to running backs. Quarterbacks put up video game numbers. Wide receivers make viral highlights. Backs, even great ones, get overlooked. To win, a running back has to be undeniable. History tells us what that looks like. Derrick Henry, the last back to win, bulldozed his way to 1,986 yards and 23 touchdowns in 2015. Mark Ingram won with 1,658 yards and 20 total TDs in 2009. Reggie Bush dazzled in 2005 with 1,740 yards on the ground, 478 receiving yards, and 18 touchdowns, averaging an absurd 8.7 yards per carry. Before them, Ron Dayne pounded his way to over 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns in 1999. Recent RB Heisman Winners 2015: Derrick Henry — Alabama (1,986 rush yds, 23 TDs, ~91 rec yds → 23 total TDs) 2009: Mark Ingram — Alabama (1,658 rush yds, 17 rush TDs, 334 rec yds, 3 rec TDs → 20 total TDs) 2005: Reggie Bush — USC (1,740 rush yds, 16 rush TDs, 478 rec yds, 2 rec TDs → 18 total TDs) 1999: Ron Dayne — Wisconsin (2,034 rush yds, 20 TDs) Heisman RB Average : ~1,800 yards, ~20 touchdowns, 6.0 YPC, plus 250–400 rec yards. But big stats alone aren’t enough. Just ask Ashton Jeanty. Boise State’s star put up video-game numbers in 2024 — 1,916 rushing yards, 19 rushing TDs, 569 receiving yards, 5 rec TDs. The Broncos even made the playoff, but when it came to the games that mattered most, Jeanty’s production dipped. Against top-tier defenses and playoff competition, he ran well under his season pace and never delivered a single season-defining moment. Jeremiyah Love flipped the script. He ripped a 98-yard TD in the CFP vs Indiana, scored an impossible run from the 2-yard line vs. Penn State in the Orange Bowl, and found the end zone in 13 straight games. Where Jeanty’s résumé felt inflated by soft weeks, Love stacked real moments against real teams, the stuff voters remember. And that’s where the comparison gets real: in 2024, Love logged 1,125 yards, 19 total touchdowns, and 6.9 yards per carry. He’s already in the efficiency range of Bush, Ingram, and Henry. The only thing missing is volume. To win in 2025, Love will need to hit: 1,750–2,000 rushing yards 23–26 total touchdowns Keep YPC at 6.0+ 300–400 receiving yards for versatility That’s the bar. And with Notre Dame’s offense shifting to a redshirt freshman quarterback, Love will have every opportunity to be the engine. The 2025 Heisman Blueprint If 2024 was the breakout, 2025 is the proving ground. Every Heisman season has a blueprint, a combination of raw production and signature moments that voters can’t ignore. For running backs, that blueprint is brutally clear: you need the yards, you need the touchdowns, and you need to shine under the primetime lights. Notre Dame’s schedule gives Jeremiyah Love that stage. The Irish open at Miami in a nationally televised night game. Two weeks later, they welcome SEC heavyweight Texas A&M to South Bend for a Saturday night showcase. The midseason brings the rivalry with USC, always one of college football’s marquee events. And if the Irish make another playoff push, voters will have a season’s worth of evidence that Love isn’t just productive, he’s defining the year. Jeremiyah Love — 2025 Heisman Pace Projection (Defensive tiers based on 2024 performance — the most reliable projection heading into 2025) Season Totals on This Pace ~1,750–1,805 rushing yards 300–350 receiving yards, 3–4 TDs 24–26 total touchdowns 6.0+ YPC maintained That’s the Derrick Henry / Mark Ingram neighborhood. But more importantly, it’s the kind of balanced stat line, consistent 100-yard games with a few monster primetime nights, that shapes a Heisman campaign. Heisman Math Even with a sub-100-yard grind against Texas A&M, Love’s blueprint still clears the 1,750-yard, 24-touchdown threshold voters look for. What seals the deal is one historic performance, a 200+ yard, 2-TD night at Stanford to close the season. That would be Notre Dame’s first 200-yard rushing game since Audric Estime in 2023, and the kind of headline stat that cements a Heisman case. For Love, the USC game in mid-October looms largest. A 160-yard, 2-touchdown night in the rivalry under the lights could become the clip voters see replayed every Saturday. The same goes for the season opener at Miami and the NC State showcase in the middle of the year. He doesn’t need 200 yards every Saturday. He just needs a handful of 150-plus, 2–3 touchdown statements in front of the country, with ruthless efficiency everywhere else. The blueprint is there. Now it’s about execution. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your Notre Dame Pickleball Paddle here ! The Image Factor Heisman winners aren’t chosen on stats alone. They’re chosen on moments, stories, and images that stick in voters’ minds. Tim Brown had his double punt return game against Michigan State. Reggie Bush had his jaw-dropping cutbacks and video game YPC, while Derrick Henry had his endless highlight reel of defenders bouncing off his 240-pound frame. Jeremiyah Love has the makings of that kind of image. His running style is violent, but his demeanor off the field is almost serene. He celebrates with a signature heart-shaped gesture, a symbol that’s as brandable as it is memorable. In an era where NIL matters as much as stat lines, Love has already inked a deal with New Balance, positioning him as both a national face of the program and a marketable star beyond South Bend. What makes Love unique is the duality. Between the tackles, he runs like a storm, lowering his shoulder, dragging defenders, fighting for every inch. After touchdowns, he flashes that heart, reminding fans and voters alike that he plays not just with power, but with passion. It’s the kind of branding that fits perfectly in a Heisman race: highlight-reel runs backed by a signature symbol. Heisman campaigns need three things: Production — the numbers that stack against history. Moments — primetime highlights voters can’t forget. Image — a hook that tells the story. Love already has the first. He’s on pace to deliver the second. And thanks to his style and presence, he might just have the third. 2025’s mission will be tying them all together en route to another shot at the National Title. Legacy Stakes Notre Dame doesn’t just want a Heisman. It needs one. The Irish haven’t won a national championship since 1988. They haven’t produced a Heisman winner since Tim Brown in 1987. For decades, both achievements have loomed as ghosts over South Bend, reminders of glory days that fans fear may never return. Marcus Freeman has given the program proof that it belongs in the playoff fight. But it’s Jeremiyah Love who represents the chance to exorcise at least one of those ghosts. His 2024 season already rewrote chunks of the record book, and his 2025 campaign could put him on track to topple the program’s most hallowed marks. He isn’t just stacking numbers; he’s chasing names that have defined Notre Dame football for generations. Notre Dame Career Leaders Rushing Yards: Autry Denson — 4,318 Rushing TDs: Allen Pinkett — 49 Total TDs: Allen Pinkett — 53 (49 rush, 3 rec, 1 KR) Love’s Projected Totals (through 2026) ~3,900 rushing yards → Top 3 all-time, within striking distance of Denson. ~59 total TDs → Passing Pinkett, becoming Notre Dame’s all-time touchdown king. That’s not just production. That’s rewriting the hierarchy of Notre Dame football. Bettis, Pinkett, Denson, Estimé; Love could surpass them all. And it’s not just about New York. If Love delivers the Heisman, he ends a 37-year drought. If he delivers a national title, he ends both droughts at once. The stakes are bigger than a trophy. They’re about South Bend itself. For a fanbase that has lived on memories of yesterday for too long, Jeremiyah Love offers a chance at tomorrow, a chance to be more than a star, to be the bridge between Notre Dame’s past and its future. The Payoff It always comes back to that play. First and goal. Defenders draped over him. Balance broken. Destiny still reached. That’s Jeremiyah Love in a single snapshot, the back who refuses to fall, the player who makes the impossible look inevitable. Every Heisman case ends with an image. For Tim Brown, it was back-to-back punt returns. For Reggie Bush, it was a cutback that broke physics. For Derrick Henry, it was a stiff-arm that looked like a truck plowing through traffic. For Love, it’s that dive across the goal line — the ball outstretched, time standing still, the stadium frozen in disbelief. The Heisman isn’t won in one game, but in the way a player makes time stop. Jeremiyah Love has already done that, and in 2025, he just might do it all the way to New York. The Blueprint Recap Production: 1,700+ rushing yards, 24–26 total TDs, 6.0+ YPC. Moments: Miami, USC, and Stanford circled as primetime statement games. Image: The heart celebration, the duality of storm and serenity. Legacy: A chance to end Notre Dame’s 37-year Heisman drought and etch his name alongside the program’s all-time greats. When voters sit down with their ballots in December, they won’t just see numbers. They’ll see the image of Jeremiyah Love breaking free for 98, diving across the goal line against all odds, and reminding them what Notre Dame football is supposed to feel like. And if 2025 unfolds the way it can, that image won’t just be a play; it’ll be the moment that brings the Heisman back to South Bend. Click to Join! - https://www.facebook.com/groups/legionoftheleprechaun

*Updated April 7th, 2026 Notre Dame is off to a strong start as usual on the defensive side of the football in the Class of 2027. Here's our updated big board with prospects to keep an eye on. We hadn't seen anything like this since the Weis days, when he pulled high-caliber talent such as Jimmy Clausen, Golden Tate, Michael Floyd, Harrison Smith, Kyle Rudolph, and Manti Te'o. Be that as impressive as it is, Marcus Freeman and staff were able to top that; in fact, some say the 2026 class is the best in program history. Notre Dame looks to continue that momentum in the 2027 class and is already on their way with notable commitments like 4-star OT James Halter, 4-star CB Xavier Hasan, 4-star CB Ace Alston, 4-star S Khalil Terry, 4-star LB Amarri Irvin, and 4-star DL Richie Flanigan. Below are the Big Board Defensive Talents that Notre Dame looks to land: Edge Zyron Forstall (5-star) 6-3.5 225lbs out of IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 42 nd  overall nationally and 5th overall at the Edge position. He holds 27 D1 offers. KJ Green (5-star) 6-4 215lbs out of Stephenson High School in Stone Mountain Gap, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 72 nd  overall nationally and 9th overall at the Edge position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Chris Whitehead (5-star) 6-4.5 230lbs out of Lloyd C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Virginia. He is ranked by 247 Sports 27 th  overall nationally and 4th overall at the Edge position. He holds 33 D1 offers. Abraham Sesay (4-star) 6-5 215lbs out of Downingtown East High School in Exton, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 63 rd  overall nationally and 8th overall at the Edge position. He holds 28 D1 offers. Mekai Brown (4-star) 6-7 230lbs out of Greenwich Country Day High School in Greenwich, Connecticut. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 49th overall nationally and 6th overall at the Edge position. He holds 28 D1 offers. Wyatt Smith (4-star) 6-6 235lbs out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 75th overall nationally and 10th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Aidan O’Neil (4-star) 6-5 240lbs out of Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, New Jersey. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 127th overall nationally and 15th overall at the Edge position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Chris Whitehead (5-star) 6-4.5 230lbs out of Lloyd C. Bird High School in Chesterfield, Virginia. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 27 th  overall nationally and 4th overall at the Edge position. He holds 33 D1 offers. Rashad Streets (4-star) 6-4 230lbs out of Millbrook High School in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 61st overall nationally and 7th overall at the Edge position. He holds 36 D1 offers. Frederick Ards (4-star) 6-5 225lbs out of Jones High School in Orlando, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 77 th  overall nationally and 11th overall at the Edge position. He holds 23 D1 offers.   Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Defensive Line David Folorunsho (4-star) 6-4 280lbs out of St. Patrick High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 103 rd  overall nationally and 13th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Brayden Parks (4-star) 6-3 305lbs out of Brother Rice High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 179th overall nationally and 20th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 41 D1 offers. Santana Harvey (4-star) 6-5 220lbs out of Lakeland High School in Lakeland, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 286th overall nationally and 34th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 34 D1 offers. Luke Starcevic (4-star) 6-5 250lbs out of Kindred High School in Kindred, North Dakota. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 218th overall nationally and 10th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 20 D1 offers. Karlos May (4-star) 6-3.5 305lbs out of Ramsay High School in Birmingham, Alabama. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 124th overall nationally and 16th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 31 D1 offers. Joseph Buchanan (4-star) 6-4 260lbs out of McDonogh High School in Owings Mill, Maryland. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 221st overall nationally and 22nd overall at the defensive line position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Jon Ioane (4-star) 6-3 295lbs out of Tustin High School in Tustin, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 268th overall nationally and 13th overall as an ATH/defensive line position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Alifeleti Tuihalamaka (4-star) 6-4 260lbs out of Oaks Christian High School in West Lake Village, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 254th overall nationally and 26th overall at the defensive line position. He holds 31 D1 offers.   Linebacker Kaden Henderson (4-star) 6-1.5 218lbs out of Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 24th overall nationally and 3rd overall at the linebacker position. He holds 41 D1 offers. Toa Satale (4-star) 6-3 200lbs out of Miliani High School in Miliani, Hawaii. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 60th overall nationally and 4th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Noah Glover (4-star) 6-1 205lbs out of Battlefield High School in Haymarket, Virginia. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 204th overall nationally and 16 th  overall at the linebacker position. He holds 29 D1 offers. Roman Igwebuike (4-star) 6-3 220lbs out of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 147th overall nationally and 11th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 43 D1 offers. Mikahi Allen (4-star) 6-1 220lbs out of Don Bosco Prep in Ramsey, New Jersey. He is ranked by 247 Sports 215th overall nationally and 19th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 28 D1 offers. Antwoine Higgins (4-star) 6-3 2185lbs out of Anderson High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 386th overall nationally and 30th overall at the linebacker position. He holds 34 D1 offers. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Cornerback John Meredith III (5-star) 6-2 175lbs out of North Crowley High School in Fort Worth, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 2nd overall nationally and 1st overall at the cornerback position. He holds 42 D1 offers. Joshua Dobson (5-star) 6-1 185lbs out of Hough High School in Cornelius, North Carolina. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 11 th  overall nationally and 2nd overall at the cornerback position. He holds 29 D1 offers. Hayden Stapp (5-star) 6-3.5 185lbs out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 33 rd  overall nationally and 5th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 37 D1 offers. Danny Lang (4-star) 5-11.5 160lbs out of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 104 th  overall nationally and 12th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 28 D1 offers. Tavares Harrington (4-star) 6-3 175lbs out of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 109 th  overall nationally and 13th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 42 D1 offers. Duvay Williams (4-star) 5-10.5 148lbs out of Junipero Serra High School in Gardena, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 178th overall nationally and 24th overall at the cornerback position. He holds 42 D1 offers. Safeties Gavin Williams (4-star) 6-1 180lbs out of Damien High School in La Verne, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 151st overall nationally and 13th overall at the safety position. He holds 40 D1 offers. Zayden Gamble (4-star) 5-11 190lbs out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 195th overall nationally and 18th overall at the safety position. He holds 46 D1 offers. Jailen Hill (4-star) 6-2 170lbs out of St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 249th overall nationally and 21st overall at the safety position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Myles Baker (4-star) 6-1 185lbs out of Sierra Canyon High School in Chatsworth, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 264th overall nationally and 24th overall at the safety position. He holds 26 D1 offers. Kenaz Sullivan (4-star) 6-1 190lbs out of St. James High School in Springfield, Virginia. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 331st overall nationally and 33rd overall at the safety position. He holds 40 D1 offers. Athletes Xavier Saab (5-star) 6-1 180lbs out of Glassboro High School in Glassboro, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 37th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the ath position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Marcus Fakatou (5-star) 6-6 275lbs out of Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, California. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 35 th  overall nationally and 2nd overall at the ath/defensive line position. He holds 36 D1 offers. Tee Walden Jr. (4-star) 6-2.5 165lbs out of Collierville High School in Collierville, Tennessee. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 125 th  overall nationally and 6th overall at the ath position. He holds 37 D1 offers. Myson Johnson-Cook (4-star) 6-2 235lbs out of East St. Louis High School in East St. Louis, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 46th overall nationally and 4th overall at the rb/ath position. He holds 48 D1 offers. Corey Hadley, Jr. (4-star) 6-1 180lbs out of Sandy Creek High School in Tyrone, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 86th overall nationally and 7th overall at the ath position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Brayton Feister (4-star) 6-3 230lbs out of Archbishop Hoban High School in Akron, Ohio. He is ranked by 247 Sports 132nd overall nationally and 7th overall at the ath position. He holds 31 D1 offers. Matthew Gregory (4-star) 6-1 170lbs out of Owen J Roberts High School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 108th overall nationally and 17th overall at the wr/ath position. He holds 26 D1 offers. Cade Cooper (4-star) 6-3 192lbs out of Malvern Prep High School in Malvern, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 339th overall nationally and 43 rd  overall at the wr/ath position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. 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* Updated April 6th, 2026 There has been plenty of movement on Notre Dame's recruiting big board these past few weeks. Here are some offensive prospects to keep an eye on, and where they stand in their recruitments. As impressive as it is, Marcus Freeman and staff were able to top that; in fact, some say the 2026 class is the best in program history. Notre Dame looks to continue that momentum in the 2027 class and is already on their way with notable commitments like 4-star OT James Halter, 4-star CB Xavier Hasan, 4-star CB Ace Alston, 4-star S Khalil Terry, 4-star LB Amarri Irvin, and 4-star DL Richie Flanigan. Below are the Big Board Offensive Talents that Notre Dame has their eyes on: Quarterback   Peyton Houston (4-star) 5-10.5 200lbs out of Evangel Christian Academy High School in Shreveport, Louisiana. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 88 th  overall nationally and 8 th  overall at the quarterback position. He is currently committed to LSU (9/15/2025) and holds 31 D1 offers.   Davin Davidson (4-star) 6-6.5 215lbs out of Cardinal Mooney High School in Sarasota, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 155 th  overall nationally and 13 th  overall at the quarterback position. He holds 32 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on the weekend of March 21st-22nd   Kamden Lopati (4-star) 6-3 215lbs out of West High School in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 122 nd  overall nationally and 9 th  overall at the quarterback position. He is currently committed to Illinois (7/27/2025) and holds 23 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on March 27th Wonderful Monds IV (4-star) 6-2 224lbs out of Vero Beach High School in Vero Beach, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 212 th  overall nationally and 19 th  overall at the quarterback position. He currently holds 34 D1 offers. Unofficial visit to Notre Dame set for April 18th Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Running Back   Lathan Whisenton (4-star) 5-11 194lbs out of Waco Midway High School in Waco, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports ranked by 247 Sports as 299th overall nationally and 19th overall at the running back position. He holds 28 D1 offers. Committed to Notre Dame on 3/25/2026   Isaiah Rogers (4-star) 5-11 205lbs out of Springfield Central High School in Springfield, Massachusetts. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 238th overall nationally and 15th overall at the running back position. He holds 17 D1 offers. Committed to Notre Dame on 3/30/2026 Notre Dame has cancelled all other running back visits for this spring.   Wide Receiver   Julius Jones (4-star) 5-10 175lbs out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Indiana. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 12th overall nationally and 68th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 44 D1 offers. Unofficial visit to Notre Dame set for April 10th-12th Official visit to Notre Dame set for June 11th-13th   Trenton Yancey (4-star) 5-10.5 190lbs out of Duncanville High School in Duncanville, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 244th overall nationally and 32nd overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 39 D1 offers.   Quentin Burrell (4-star) 6-3 175lbs out of Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports 73rd overall nationally and 14th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 38 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame 4/1/2026-4/2/2026 Remains a Top Target for Notre Dame   Julian Caldwell (4-star) 6-0 185lbs out of Argyle High School in Argyle, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 89th overall nationally and 15th overall at the wide receiver position. He holds 43 D1 offers. Named Notre Dame in his Top 5 schools he's considering on 4/1/2026 On campus for Notre Dame's annual Junior Day Event over the weekend of March 19th-21st   Tight End   Jaxon Dollar (5-star) 6-5 222lbs out of East Lincoln High School in Denver, North Carolina. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 36th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the tight end position. He holds 37 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame on the annual Junior Day Event over the weekend of March 19th-21st   Seneca Driver (4-star) 6-6 234lbs out of Boyle County High School in Danville, Kentucky. He is currently committed to Oklahoma (3/7/2026) and ranked by 247 Sports as 56th overall nationally and 3rd overall at the tight end position. He holds 38 D1 offers. Committed to Oklahoma on 3/7/2026   Jack Brown (4-star) 6-5 215lbs out of Francis Howell Central High School in St. Charles, Missouri. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 100th overall nationally and 5th overall at the tight end position. He holds 33 D1 offers. Committed to Missouri on 3/17/2026   Grant Haviland (4-star) 6-4 215lbs out of Milon High School in Alpharetta, Georgia. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 275th overall nationally and 13th overall at the tight end position. He holds 30 D1 offers. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Offensive Line   Mark Matthews (5-star) 6-5.5 300lbs out of St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 3rd overall nationally and 1st overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 35 D1 offers.   Kennedy Brown (5-star) 6-4 285lbs out of Kingwood High School in Humble, Texas. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 8th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 45 D1 offers.   Albert Simien (5-star) 6-4 280lbs out of Sam Houston High School in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He is ranked by 247 Sports 14th overall nationally and 2nd overall at the interior offensive line position. He holds 24 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st   Kellen Wymer (4-star) 6-5 265lbs out of Liberty Center High School in Liberty City, Ohio. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 82 nd  overall nationally and 6th overall at the interior offensive tackle position. He is currently committed toas Ohio State (11/2/2025) and holds 15 D1 offers.   Jake Hildebrand (4-star) 6-5.5 300lbs out of Basha High School in Chandler, Arizona. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 90th overall nationally and 9th overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 39 D1 offers. Offered (No. 78) on 3/17/2026 for Pot of Gold Day   Terrance Smith (4-star) 6-6 260lbs out of Lansdale Catholic High School in Liberty Lansdale, Pennsylvania. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 267 th  overall nationally and 14th overall at the interior offensive tackle position. He holds 33 D1 offers.   Cameron Wagner (4-star) 6-6 300lbs out of St. Joseph-Ogden High School in St. Joseph, Illinois. He is ranked by 247 Sports as 317 th  overall nationally and 32nd overall at the offensive tackle position. He holds 20 D1 offers. Visited Notre Dame for the annual Junior Day Event on the weekend of March 19th-21st Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. Follow The Irish Tribune on social media: Facebook  / Instagram  / X  / Threads  / TikTok Follow @bruce_straughan  on X Liked this story? Subscribe to our mailing list  and get every story in your inbox. Check out our Irish partners: TMPR Sports - Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle here! Legion of the Leprechaun - Join  the #1 Notre Dame fan community on Facebook today!

The season ended for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Women’s Basketball Team this past Sunday with a loss to the number one team in the country and presumptive favorite to win the National Title, the University of Connecticut (UConn) Huskies, by the score of 70-52 in the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament. Photo via Notre Dame Athletics Notre Dame Season Review One month into 2026, it looked as if the Irish might not make the NCAA tournament, let alone their first Elite Eight since 2019. A 3-6 record in January prompted this belief. Entering the turn of the new year, the Irish were 10-2 overall with an Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) record of 2-0; the Irish had reasonable expectations to compete for a conference championship. However, a Knee injury suffered by Senior Guard KK Bransford on December 14th against Moorhead State exacerbated a team lacking depth. Losses to Duke (regular season and conference tournament champions) and Georgia Tech kicked off the New Year, then an 85-47 home loss to UConn on January 19 put the season's hopes on life support. The return of Bransford in February, along with contributions from transfer players Vanessa de Jesus and Iyana Moore, began a surge for the Irish, as they finished the season on a 9-2 run (only losing to Virginia and Duke in the ACC Tournament semi-finals). This included a signature victory coming on the road against then 10th-ranked Louisville 65-62 on March 10th. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Notre Dame was powered all season by a do-everything, perennial National Player of the Year contender, Junior Guard Hannah Hidalgo. Hidalgo finished the season with a stellar stat line of 25.3 Points Per Game (PPG), 6.9 Rebounds Per Game (RPG), 5.2 Assists Per Game (APG), and shot 47.5 percent from the field. She also won her second consecutive ACC Player of the Year and ACC Defensive Player of the Year Awards. Key Departures: PLEASE NOTE-THIS ONLY INDICATES PLAYERS THAT ARE GRADUATING, NOT POSSIBLE TRANSFER PORTAL DEPARTURES . Iyana Moore (12.2 PPG) Vanessa de Jesus (8.6 PPG) Malaya Cowles (8.0 PPG) Gisela Sanchez (6.0 PPG) All of Coach Niele Ivey's transfer portal recruits from the end of last season will depart this offseason. These losses will be twofold. First, they had experience and offered a great deal of leadership for the team. Secondly, during the Irish late-season surge, their contributions allowed Hidalgo to operate more freely and opened the offense. Forward Iyana Moore was especially key as she gave the Irish some size for rim protection and rebounding (averaging 5.3 RPG). Moore's 11.8 PPG will be heavily missed as well. One thing to keep an eye on is ACC Most Improved Player Cassandre Prosper and Bransford, both of whom have one year of eligibility remaining. If they decide to return to South Bend, that would be two veterans to provide suitable help for Hidalgo next season. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Recruiting Class: PF Jacy Abii ***** SF Bella Ragone **** PF Amari Byles **** SG Jenica Lewis **** PF Isabella Sangha This is arguably the best recruiting class under Coach Ivey, with it being ranked as one of the best in the country by many recruiting experts, with two McDonald's All-Americans. It is led by Jacy Abii, a 6’2" forward with great range and length. Another top get for the Irish is Guard Jenica Lewis. Lewis led Johnston to 3 consecutive state championships and was named Iowa Gatorade Basketball Player of the Year. This season's size was a concern for the Irish; this class solves that. Four out of the five players are 6’2" or taller. Notre Dame will also welcome 2025 McDonald's All-American Leah Macy into the fold. She missed all of this past season with a knee injury suffered during her senior year of high school. 2026-27 Outlook: Notre Dame should be a force to be reckoned with next season, if for no other reason than the return of Hidalgo (she will not be draft eligible). If Bransford and Prosper return, then that will be a solid foundation for Ivey to build upon. Having that core would allow this stellar recruiting class to ease into the rotation and be experienced come tournament time. It should also be expected that the Irish will hit the transfer portal for additional experience to make up for what will be leaving. Want the latest intel on Notre Dame football? Subscribe to Tribune+ and get access to recruiting and team intel from The Irish Tribune team, as well as access to our intel community, exclusive app, and more Notre Dame content: Subscribe here  to support our independent journalism. 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