While the Notre Dame football team is showing off its muscles as ace recruiters, elite recruiting isn't the only path to becoming a top program. Marcus Freeman certainly understands that, as he’s dipped liberally into the transfer portal as well.
The transfer portal has changed how programs build rosters. Some schools go all-in every offseason to overhaul their rosters through the portal, while others use the portal to add depth to a position or target major transfers who could take a team from great to national champion.
Notre Dame football gets eyebrow-raising newcomer class ranking from ESPN
The Notre Dame football team had been leaning on the portal to provide quarterbacks the last few years. However, Freeman went to that well less often this offseason than he has in the past, perhaps because of how much talent he’s got from the high school ranks. That might be part of why the Irish are ranked as low as they are on ESPN’s ranking of top 2025 newcomer classes.
Craig Haubert and Billy Tucker ranked the Irish as the No. 22 team in these rankings, behind schools like Kentucky and Maryland and Colorado. In fact, Marcus Freeman’s newcomers only have his squad ranked above Florida, North Carolina and USC on this list.
Among the high school newcomers that earned a mention in the article were OLB Madden Faraimo, S Dallas Golden, and WR Elijah Burress.
“Golden won't arrive until summer, but he should push for time in the secondary and as a key special teams contributor because of his dynamic athleticism. Burress, the son of former NFL receiver Plaxico Burress, turned heads this spring as well with his speed, elusiveness and polished route running.”
The “top” newcomers from the portal are, WR Malachi Fields, WR Will Pauling, DL Jared Dawson, S DeVonta Smith, S Jalen Stroman.
“Freeman has been selective in the transfer portal and hit on Fields, who has size and speed to produce big plays vertically. The 6-foot-4 220-pounder is an upgrade from the Irish's wide receiver unit last season and a legit go-to playmaker with his impressive size and explosiveness.”
It feels at first glance, as though the ranking for the Notre Dame football team is ridiculously low. And the team will have a chance to show that this fall.