Notre Dame football undergraduate transfer targets

Notre Dame football will need to land talent if they want to vault back into playoff contention next year; here are a couple of players they should target.

Keeshawn Silver transfer from North Carolina

At just under 6’5” and 315 pounds, Silver has the prototypical size and build to wreak havoc on opposing offensive lines. A former 5-star recruit out of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, Keeshawn is looking for a fresh start in the transfer portal. He played sparingly in three games this year for the Tar-Heels and recorded 3 tackles against Miami. While he hasn’t been given much of a chance, he should begin to dominate when he gets the opportunity. He would be a monster addition to this Notre Dame football program.

Gabe Brooks, a recruiting analyst for 247Sports, compared Silver to Stephon Tuitt

While listed more often than not as a defensive end, he has the size necessary to play all over the defensive line. With his big build and size, he won’t be easily pushed around on the interior much, making him a versatile player for the defense. Though Keeshawn is not yet a graduate, which may make it difficult for Notre Dame to land him, he should be high on their wish list of players to bring in.

JQ Hardaway transfer from Cincinnati

JQ Hardaway from Phenix City, Alabama, was a 4-star prospect out of high school before signing on with the Bearcats. He was initially recruited for safety but is now listed as a cornerback for a good reason. He has plenty of size at 6’3” and 200 pounds and has the quickness you look for in a lockdown defender. However, Hardaway was a true freshman last year, meaning the transfer would be tricky to pull off again.

That said, Marcus Freeman moving from Cincinnati to Notre Dame football himself may make for a smooth connection and transition. While the Irish are set at the cornerback position, given their current talent and freshmen coming in next year, it never hurts to add more. Should Brandon Joseph head to the NFL, he could be converted back to safety. If Joseph is gone and Notre Dame loses Peyton Bowen’s commitment, a safety in the portal becomes an absolute must for the Irish.

Either way, the Irish are busy recruiting in the portal. It would be nice to see them land some names sooner rather than later, as commitments keep rolling in. After a tough week, Freeman and company need to make a big splash moving forward.