Freeman details how meticulously recruited transfer additions, including former top targets, will bolster Notre Dame's depth and talent across the roster.
Notre Dame's 2026 portal class might not be big in numbers, but it's big in talent. Head coach Marcus Freeman always talks about majoring in high school recruiting and minoring in the transfer portal. Well, they just brought in the No. 1 recruiting class in the country and supplemented their roster with extremely talented players from the portal. Here's what Freeman had to say about the portal players they brought in.
On The Ohio State Wide Receivers...
"I think both of those guys are guys that we recruited heavily out of high school," Freeman said. "We knew a lot about them. Obviously, Tae Johnson is close with Mylan Graham. Quincy Porter was a guy that we recruited extremely hard and have a connection at Bergen Catholic with obviously Steve Angeli being from there and with other guys we recruited from there. We knew a lot about them in the high school recruiting process, who they were and the type of players they are. I'm glad we were able to get them."
On Keon Keeley Returning To South Bend...
"It remind him and myself of a little delayed gratification," Freeman explained. "I've always believed Keon Keeley was a Notre Dame kid coming from his high school. There's obviously kids on our team now from his high school. He fits here perfectly. He's such a unique individual. Yes, he's a great talent. He's a very talented football player. I remember in our first conversation recently, when we came on his visit, It was the same Keon that we recruited a couple years ago. He fits here, and I'm excited for his future here."
On Cornerbacks DJ McKinney And Jayden Sanders...
"There was a need because of our numbers in the defensive back room," Freeman said. "You know, we lost some younger guys and you lose a senior with with DeVonta Smith at the nickel position You lose Cree Thomas who's a younger guy JaDon Blair and so there was a numbers that we had to replace and then we had to make sure they can help us at the nickel position. We believe in competition, right? Those two guys you mentioned coming out of portal, DJ McKinney and Jayden Sanders, are as competitive as anybody else. As you look at our DB group last year, you're going to need multiple guys."
On Francis Brewu...
"As we evaluated Francis Brewu and we scouted him and then as I saw him live in person, he's a challenging football player. The thing I like about him is how hard he plays the game. To see the effort he plays with, it tells me a lot about when I see big people like play really hard; it excites me. Not all big people play really hard, but he does. The other thing that I really liked about him was his connection with Coach [Charlie] Partridge. Coach Partridge recruited him to Pitt and that connection is probably what got him to commit to us."
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