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The Notre Dame offense was victorious over the defense, 41-40, in the second-most attended Blue-Gold game in program history. Photo via Notre Dame Football The 2026 iteration of the Blue-Gold game brought in 45,308 fans, the second-biggest crowd in the game's history to get a glimpse of one of the most anticipated seasons in Notre Dame history. While there were still reminders of spring ball, from red jerseys to two-hand touch "thud" periods, it was a refreshing sight to see competitive periods inside Notre Dame Stadium. Here were a few takeaways from the spring game. Interior Defensive Lineman The sheer size of the interior of Notre Dame's defensive line is staggering, especially compared to where the unit was a season ago. The transfer portal additions of Tionne Gray and Francis Brewu will have an instant impact, and the depth of the position with Jason Onye, Armel Mukam, Elijah Hughes, Christopher Burgess Jr. and Sean Sevillano Jr will make life difficult for opposing offensive lines. The size, speed, and strength were eye-opening today, and if the Irish defense can get a boost from this position group, they can be one of the nation's best all-around defenses. Secondary Depth Michigan transfer Jayden Sanders was one of the best players from this scrimmage, as he flashed all game. He filled in for Leonard Moore and got the better of the CJ Carr-Micah Gilbert tandem. If the Fighting Irish can get excellent play out of Sanders, and add him to a group of Moore, Christian Gray, Adon Shuler, Tae Johnson, and Luke Talich, then the Notre Dame secondary will be among the best in the sport. It is also worth noting that the Irish will add former All-Big 12 corner DJ McKinney as well. Young Wide Receivers/Quarterbacks The spring is the perfect time for the second- and third-string units to get valuable reps within Notre Dame's system. So far, the buzz has been about the early-enrollee wide receivers making a splash, and that trend continued today. While Bubba Frazier has received the most praise, Devin Fitzgerald isn't too far behind. Today, Fitzgerald looked the part on the national stage, hauling in three catches for 54 yards and a touchdown. Throwing to the second- and third-string units were Noah Grubbs and Blake Hebert. On the stat sheet, Hebert was Notre Dame's best performer, edging out both Grubbs and starter CJ Carr. Hebert finished 7-11, with 103 yards, one touchdown, and no interceptions. The bulk of Hebert's yards came on a 53-yard completion to Cam Williams, which was an encouraging development from the former five-star prospect. Hebert also had the best throw of the day, floating a pass to Elijah Burress Jr. in the back of the end zone. As for Grubbs, the freshman QB finished with 64 yards, and included a touchdown pass to Fitzgerald, but did throw an interception to Ethan Long as well. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! First-Team Offense's Slow Start It was rough going for the first-team offensive unit to start the Blue-Gold game, which offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock said he was "disappointed with how we started." CJ Carr ended this game 7-15, with zero touchdowns, and an interception, albeit on a dropped pass by TE Ty Washington. When Carr did have success, he was throwing to Aneyas Williams, Mylan Graham, and Jordan Faison. With Leonard Moore not playing in this game, Carr tried getting Micah Gilbert in the mix but struggled to connect. It wasn't until the "second half" of the game that Carr led the Irish to a touchdown drive that ended with a Williams rushing touchdown. While it isn't an instant worry, to see Carr struggle after hearing reports of his dominance behind closed doors is a bit jarring. However, head coach Marcus Freeman knows what he has in his returning starting QB. Kicking To put a bow on this year's game, Marcus Freeman set the scene with the offense trailing by two points to have Spencer Porath kick a game-winning field goal, which the Purdue transfer nailed from 43 yards out. To see some sort of consistency in the kicking game from where the Irish were a season ago is an extremely calming feeling and was the perfect way to wrap up the televised event. 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 @LiamFarrell_IT 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!

With the 32nd pick, Jadarian Price becomes the second running back taken in the draft, only behind former Notre Dame teammate Jeremiyah Love. Photo by Irish Tribune As the first two running backs selected in the draft, Love and Price become the first college running back duo in NFL draft history to be the first two players at that position selected. For two years, Price was the unsung hero of the Notre Dame offense. He displayed his abilities and potential as a future NFL lead back. While it may seem like a high pick for a backup running back, it shows just how good the Notre Dame running back room was in 2024 and 2025. Price showcased the athleticism and running ability to be a reliable and explosive player in the NFL. With backup duties, it means he has been able to limit the wear and tear on his body. While Price's stats may not shock anyone, his film does all the talking for him.  Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! As a first-round pick, it also marks the first time since 2018 that two Notre Dame players are taken in the first round. In 2018,  Offensive Linemen Quenton Nelson and Mike McGlinchey were both selected within the top ten. For Price, he is the latest in a long line of great Notre Dame running backs. While underrated for much of his college career, tonight marks the first time that the spotlight will be placed solely on him as the first player taken by the Seahawks. At Notre Dame, Price was selfless. While being more than good enough to start almost anywhere in the country, Price decided to stay at Notre Dame to build a special backfield with Love. While playing under limited snaps, Price made the most of the chances he received. He became known for his explosive breakaway runs, physical but fluid running style, and his tremendous impact on special teams. He also made big plays in clutch situations. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle In 2023 against USC, Price delivered a back-breaking kickoff return for a touchdown against the Trojans, stopping any thoughts USC might have had of a comeback. Against Texas A&M in 2024, both teams were tied late in the third quarter when Price broke loose for a 47-yard touchdown run to give Notre Dame the lead. This past season, Price broke Trojan hearts again when he took another kickoff to the house after USC had taken the lead in the third quarter. This sparked a dominant Notre Dame fourth quarter that led to an Irish victory. For his career, Price totaled 1692 rushing yards, 21 rushing touchdowns, 3 receiving touchdowns, and 3 kickoff returns for touchdowns. Price joins the reigning Super Bowl champions as their presumptive day-one starter running back. Being the defending champions, Price will need to be a key piece of that championship defense. Kenneth Walker III (who left via free agency for the Kansas City Chiefs) was an integral part of the Seattle offense and garnered Super Bowl MVP honors. It is expected that Price will be asked to carry the workload on the ground for a team looking to stay at the top of the le

With the third pick in the 2026 NFL draft, Jeremiyah Love heads to the Arizona Cardinals as one of just three running backs taken in the top three in the last 20 years. Photo by The Irish Tribune With the selection by the Cardinals, Love now becomes the highest-drafted running back since Saquon Barkley was taken second overall by the New York Giants. This puts Love in a special group, and with that comes the pressure to perform at a high level immediately. Love breaks many notions about where a running back should be selected. It is widely believed that running backs are a difficult position to pick this early in the draft, and there are good reasons why. The money due to a top-5 pick already makes him one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL. Running backs in the NFL also do not have a long shelf life, making a top pick a major risk.  Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Lastly, teams drafting this high usually have plenty of other positional needs that may need to be addressed before looking at running back. Love breaks that mold. In a draft that lacks truly elite prospects, Love is the anomaly who has the potential to transform an offense. Because of this, the Cardinals have to feel good about getting one of the best players in the draft. In terms of Notre Dame's history, this is an incredibly unique moment in the draft. This selection marks the first time since Bryant Young was drafted with the seventh pick in 1994 that a non-offensive lineman was taken inside the top-10 coming out of Notre Dame. Just recently, Joe Alt was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers with the fifth pick, making them the highest-drafted Fighting Irish in a long time. This is a great representation of the immense impact and skill Love showed off during his time in South Bend, making him a true Notre Dame great. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Reflecting on his college career, it became apparent from the start at Notre Dame that Love was going to be a special player. Whether it was his breakaway runs, hurdles, or spin moves, Love never failed to dazzle onlookers. During his time at Notre Dame, Love totaled 2882 rushing yards, 36 rushing touchdowns, and six receiving touchdowns. He etched his name in the Notre Dame record books and has now given the Cardinals a new weapon for the foreseeable future. Looking at the Cardinals, they now have the centerpiece of their offense. With no long-term option at quarterback, it seems clear now that the Cardinals want to start building around Love in the backfield. They have a lot of work to do with their offensive line and offense as a whole, but they now have an electric playmaker who has shown he can carry an offense. 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!

As time winds down before the NFL draft, it is time to look at which Notre Dame players could land in the later rounds of the draft, as teams try to find value and underrated talent. Notre Dame will make their mark in this draft by delivering the first two running backs off the board. With that, Malachi Fields will be in the mix on day two of the draft as one of the better wide receivers available in that range. After that, Notre Dame and its fans could see up to three more players taken on day three of the draft. While many of these players are seen as depth pieces or even players that will have to fight over the summer for a roster spot, they could also turn out to be potential steals. Billy Schrauth: Buffalo Bills (R4, P126) At this point in the draft, it is almost impossible to accurately predict the outcome of these later round picks, but Schrauth could be an excellent candidate to be selected as a late third or fourth round pick. While there are a lot of teams that need extra help along the offensive line, Schrauth could be exactly what the Bills are looking for. The Buffalo Bills would be the perfect fit for Schrauth in the fourth round. Not only are the Bills picking right in the range where Schrauth is projected to go, but they are also a great scheme fit for his strengths. While Schrauth is a physical blocker, he shines brightest in pass-protection. In 2025, he allowed no sacks, an attractive stat for a team that has struggled to keep their MVP-caliber QB upright. The Bills are one of the most pass-heavy teams in the NFL, so Schrauth would fit in perfectly with that offense, adding strength to a team that needs depth on its interior offensive line. The Bills would most likely not be asking Schrauth to start, but he does project to have some high-floor qualities that could see him in a rotational role much sooner than expected. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Eli Raridon: New England Patriots (R4, P131) With the Patriots picking twice in the fourth round, it could be the perfect time for them to shore up some depth spots while also taking a chance on a player like Raridon. Yes, this is probably on the optimistic side of things when it comes to Raridon's draft projection, but there are reasons why it works. Raridon is a big, athletic tight end who excels in the passing game. While being 6'7", he moves well for his size and rarely drops the ball, giving defenses a unique weapon to account for. The Patriots already have two solid tight ends under contract with Hunter Henry and newly signed Julian Hill. Henry is an expensive tight end on the wrong side of 30, prompting many to believe the Patriots will be looking for replacements in the future. If the Patriots do draft Raridon, they would have to thrust him into a playing role right away. Raridon would be given the time he needs to adjust to the NFL game while developing his blocking skills, which need serious work. The Patriots run a lot of 12-personnel lineups, meaning there are two tight ends on the field at the same time. With Raridon's limitations blocking, these lineups would suit him well if he were paired with a tight end that excelled at blocking, like Julian Hill. Aamil Wagner: New York Giants (R6, P192) Aamil Wagner still has a long way to go in terms of becoming an NFL-level starter on the offensive line. While true, he does possess some important qualities that could play a huge role in his development over the coming years. With a sixth-round pick, the Giants could use that pick to see if they can tap into his potential. The Giants have been searching for answers along the offensive line for years now. Last year, they finally showed that they may have begun to find some of those answers, especially with right tackle Jermiane Eluemunor, who recently signed a three-year deal to keep him in New York. While that means he will be the starter for the foreseeable future, the Giants are still looking for more depth along the entire offensive line. Wagner could be a good option for the Giants to take late in the draft as a purely experimental player. With a sixth-round pick, there are no real consequences if it does not work out for the Giants. If Wagner does tap into the potential he has and uses his great athleticism to become a quality player at the pro level, it would be one of the best value picks of the whole draft. 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!

With just a few more days until the NFL Draft, it is time to look into where the most likely landing spots are for some former Irish stars. Photo by The Irish Tribune While there are more than six Notre Dame players in this year's draft, it is likely that only the top-six will hear their name called. The bulk of that group will have to wait until day-two and some even day-three, but it is a group that could provide decent value down some team's draft boards. With that being said, Notre Dame is also providing the draft's most electrifying prospect, maybe even the best player.   Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Jeremiyah Love: Tennessee Titans (R1, P4) Love has been the talk of this draft for a long time. His projection started as a mid-first round pick with the highest projections landing him right around pick 10. After the NFL Combine, that was no longer a reality. After his 4.36 performance in the 40 yard dash, it became clear that Love was a surefire top-10 pick, with some projections even as high as the third overall pick. Now, Love will almost certainly be selected somewhere between picks 4-7, with little chance he makes it past the Commanders at seven. For the Titans, this is a home-run pick at four. Ever since the departure of Derrick Henry, the Titans have been desperate to find an elite playmaker on offense. Love can be just that. With little blue-chip or elite prospects in this draft, the Titans could be getting the best player at pick 4, providing excellent value and satisfying a need on the current roster. Last season, rookie quarterback Cam Ward showed flashes of a bright future in Nashville, but the offense lacked any real big-play threat, especially in the running game. Not only did their rushing attack not provide big plays, it did not provide much of anything for the Titans in 2025, ranking second to last in the NFL when it came to rushing yards. Love could be a quick fix to these problems. If Love is able to improve the running game, it would also give Ward much needed relief. He was asked to do a lot for the Titans as just a rookie, and with Love, he would have a running game to rely on and an excellent passing threat out of the backfield. Jadarian Price: Seattle Seahawks (R1, P32) Whether it ends up being Seattle that picks Price, he will certainly be the second running back taken in the draft. Considered by many to be the only other running back in the draft with day-one starting capabilities, Price has a real chance to crack into the end of the first round. Given his talent and value as a starting running back, its becoming increasingly more likely that he does not make it far into the second round. As of right now, the Seahawks do not have a starting running back. Super Bowl MVP Kenneth Walker left in free agency and Zach Charbonnet is recovering from a torn ACL late in the year. The Seahawks can't afford to wait on taking a running back. They need a starter and Price is their only option for that. With aspirations of going back to back, the Seahawks need to keep the holes in their roster filled. Last season, the run game led by Walker was a key part of the offense, so Price would be asked to do a lot as a rookie. With the skillset he presented in South Bend, Price would be providing Seattle with the same big-play threat that Walker did, while also giving them a solid down-to-down back. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle Malachi Fields: Cleveland Browns (R3,P70) Fields' draft stock has been all over the place for the entirety of the draft process. At the end of the season, he was not not getting much draft buzz, but that all changed after the Senior Bowl. There, he showed off his impressive ability to win down the field and track deep throws. Combine that with his great size, it was obvious why teams were beginning to fall in love with him. At the combine, his stock may have dipped some due to his lack of speed and overall explosiveness. While the third round may not be exactly where he envisioned going, Fields is exactly what the Browns need. The Browns have been lost at the wide receiver position for some time now. They are in great need of playmakers on the outside, so do not be surprised if they use multiple early picks on wide receivers. Specifically, they need a player with exactly Fields' skillset. They already have some speed with Jerry Jeudy and Isaiah Bond, but lack a true "X" that can win on the outside. While it is still unclear if Fields' game will translate smoothly, he does have all the necessary tools to become a difference maker for the Browns. He is a tall, athletic weapon that uses his size to win on the sideline or in jump-ball scenarios, a perfect weapon to give a young QB like Sheduer Sanders. 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 landed their third transfer of the cycle on Sunday evening with the commitment of Braeden Smith. Photo via Braeden Smith, IG (@braedennsmithh) The 6-0, 170-pound Guard enters South Bend with one year of eligibility remaining. Smith was on campus this past weekend for an official visit before announcing his transfer decision, according to ON3’s Jamie Shaw. The redshirt junior reportedly chose the Irish following previous visits to Washington and Utah. Head Coach Micah Shrewsberry has his potential starting ball-handler via the portal, where Smith ranked as the #53 transfer PG, according to 247 Sports. Coming out of Seattle Prep in Washington, Smith was an elite athlete who set the program’s assists and steals records while also being an all-league QB on the gridiron. As an under-recruited three-star prospect out of high school, Smith committed to Colgate to pursue basketball. Want the inside scoop on all things Notre Dame? Subscribe to Tribune+ today! Smith lit it up at Colgate right away, starting all 35 games his freshman season. Across 31.6 minutes per game, the PG averaged 11.6 points (48% FG% & 36% 3FG%), 4.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per contest. Smith was named to the Patriot League All-Rookie Team after setting a Colgate record for assists by a freshman (155) and helping the Raiders to a conference championship and NCAA Tournament appearance. Smith improved on his freshman campaign by becoming the first sophomore to win Patriot League Player of the Year since 2014-15. While starting all 35 games played (30.3 mpg), the Colgate PG averaged 12.5 points, 5.6 assists (top-25 nationally) , 5.5 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per contest. Smith was later named Patriot League Tournament MVP after posting averages of 16 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists while leading the Raiders to another conference title and NCAA Tournament appearance. Following this decorated season, Smith would enter the transfer portal as a low-risk, high-reward option for top programs nationally.   Smith took an interesting approach out of the portal when he committed to Gonzaga. Head Coach Mark Few had convinced Smith to take a redshirt season to learn and develop under Gonzaga’s complicated playstyle. The idea was meant to preserve Smith’s eligibility so that he could take full advantage of being Gonzaga's starting PG for the following two seasons. Few and Smith’s vision seemingly did not go perfectly to plan. The Seattle native started 18 of 35 games played, averaging 17.1 minutes per game, as Gonzaga never seemed to find consistent PG play this season. Smith averaged 5.1 points (47% FG%), 3.6 assists, 2.2 rebounds, and 1.0 steals per game before entering the portal once again. Use code "IrishTribune20" to get $20 off your officially-licensed Notre Dame pickleball paddle I would expect Smith to be Notre Dame’s starting PG when the 2026-27 season tips off in Rome unless incoming freshman Jonathan Sanderson really impresses throughout summer and training camp. Two big intangibles that come with Smith are his winning mindset and good health. Across three seasons of college basketball, Smith’s teams have posted an overall 82-23 record with three conference titles and NCAA Tournament appearances. Meanwhile, he has yet to miss a game in his college career.  On the court, Smith looks to be a solid scorer who can produce inside and is also a career 33% shooter from deep. The true PG also brings great vision to the offense, something that the Irish may have been lacking with Markus Burton’s aggressive scoring playstyle. Smith is a good rebounder for his size and a very good defender, a common theme among Gonzaga players. Smith’s quick and physical play should fit in Coach Shrewsberry’s system nicely. 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 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!

*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! 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* 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. 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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!