Notre Dame Football: It is time for Brian Kelly to strike in the transfer portal
Notre Dame Football: Now is the time for Brian Kelly to strike in the transfer portal
Where is Notre Dame now?
To this point, Notre Dame has already used the portal much more than they ever have in the past under Kelly. After all, just a few years ago the Irish didn’t like to dip into the transfer market. Instead, recruiting and developing freshmen over time who fit the program was the preferred way of finding players.
Recently, with moves like Ben Skowronek last season and Jack Coan this season, Kelly has proved that he is willing to start making moves in the portal, but he hasn’t fully committed to it. Now, he must commit to it and make up for gaps in the Irish roster.
Without filling those gaps, Notre Dame will fall behind smart programs that do fill in their gaps. They also will struggle to maintain a well-rounded and deep roster, as Notre Dame loses players to the portal. Coaching changes, playing time, academics, homesickness, and anything else you can think of pushes players to transfer. It is coming for Notre Dame too.
For instance, Notre Dame has already been affected by the new transfer rule Jordan Johnson, for instance, left the program and is now with UCF.
To this point, rumors are swirling around Akayleb Evans. He’s a corner from Tulsa, who has received an offer from Notre Dame as a transfer. Evans was a stud on an excellent Tulsa defense, who fits into Notre Dame for his academic ability and his community service record.
He also fills a gap at corner on the Irish defense. The trick is getting him to South Bend, as his hometown Texas Longhorns are pushing for him too. After Evans, there are very few well-known transfer targets at Notre Dame and they still have to land Evans.
That’s simply not enough. Notre Dame needs help going into next season at wide receiver, at defensive back, arguably kicker, and potentially offensive line too. This is not a perfect roster, and the odds are more players leave. A couple of injuries and Notre Dame might spiral. We are entering a new world with the transfer portal. Now is the time to strike too. Brian Kelly and the Irish can’t wait.