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Notre Dame football: Former top recruits enter transfer portal

By Tyler Kruse

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 08: Linebacker Prince Kollie #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish kneels on the field before the Shamrock Series game against the Brigham Young Cougars at Allegiant Stadium on October 08, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Fighting Irish defeated the Cougars 28-20. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 08: Linebacker Prince Kollie #10 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish kneels on the field before the Shamrock Series game against the Brigham Young Cougars at Allegiant Stadium on October 08, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Fighting Irish defeated the Cougars 28-20. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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Prince Kollie became the 2nd former highly-ranked recruit to depart the Notre Dame football program via the transfer portal in the last week. Today, the now former Irish linebacker joined former Irish WR/CB Lorenzo Styles in deciding to enter the transfer portal.

While Kollie is a bit more surprising than Styles, given how loaded the wide-receiver room is becoming, the linebackers group is also on the come-up. With talented upper-classmen like Jack Kiser, Marist Liufau, and JD Bertrand, it’s possible he got lost in the depth chart. Frankly, Jaylen Sneed, Nolan Ziegler, Drayk Bowen, and Jaiden Ausberry could also push for early playing time.

Given Styles’ recent transition from wide receiver to cornerback, it was clear the Irish liked him enough to try him out at other positions though wide receiver wasn’t for him. He was a solid receiver when getting the opportunity for the Irish though mental mistakes and dropped balls plagued the former top 115 overall recruit.

After a relatively solid true freshman season, Styles was expected by many to have a breakout this past year; unfortunately, that didn’t happen. In his two seasons with the Irish, Styles had 54 receptions for 684 yards and two touchdowns. Wherever he ends up, we wish him the best of luck and hope he can make a difference regardless of what side of the ball he ends up on.

While Kollie wasn’t as highly ranked as Styles, according to 247Sports, he was a top 20 linebacker in the class of 2021. Even in his 247 scouting report by Barton Simmons, Kollie was listed as a ‘tweener’ between linebacker and safety. Given the solid play from Bertrand and Kiser and a hopeful bounce-back season from Liufau, his time seemed limited in South Bend. However, the Irish also have some young stud linebackers waiting in the wings to show what they can do. Kollie tallied 32 total tackles and 1.5 sacks in his two seasons with the Irish.

Both will surely be able to find good homes for the upcoming seasons, and we wish them well in their future endeavors. That said, I don’t see this as a massive loss like some fans in Irish nation may.

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