Notre Dame Fighting Irish news: Transfers and recruiting buzz

The Notre Dame football team is amid the wildest time of the college football season with transfers, recruiting, and bowl games.

Linebacker Osita Ekwonu who will be leaving this Notre Dame football team as a graduate transfer has officially entered the portal and will seek a new home. Ekwonu has 2 years of eligibility remaining and could be a solid boost for a team needing some help at linebacker or defensive line. Unfortunately, Ekwonu didn’t see the playing time he probably had hoped for. Still, he did earn one of the most prestigious degrees a student-athlete can earn. We wish him nothing but the absolute best in his future collegiate endeavors.

Jayden Bellamy, a true freshman to the team this year and a part of the 2022 recruiting class, has also decided to transfer. While he made it known a few days ago, multiple Crystal Ball predictions have been submitted on 247Sports for him to end up at Rutgers University. Benjamin Morrison’s meteoric rise to starting cornerback may have had something to do with Jayden’s transfer. Rutgers is only an hour from Bellamy’s hometown of North Haledon, New Jersey. Again, we hope the best for Jayden.

Notre Dame recruiting insider for 247Sports, Tom Loy, had some interesting tidbits on a 247Sports transfer portal show. First, he noted the Irish were definitely in play for Hudson Card and Devin Leary, two of the top quarterbacks in the portal. However, he did mention that Notre Dame could secure a transfer from someone not yet in the portal.

While this is pure speculation and nothing based on what Tom said, I’ve seen rumors that Drake Maye and Michael Pratt are two names to keep an eye on. That said, nearly every team in the country outside of a handful would be vying for the opportunity to have those two lead their program. Still, the coaching staff would be thrilled if Maye or Pratt wanted to join this Notre Dame football program.

It’s going to be a hectic few weeks with the transfer portal ramping up, so we’re starting a daily news piece Monday-Friday. It’ll keep you up to date on all things and all sports Irish.