With the transfer portal opening on Friday, the Notre Dame football team was already likely looking for defensive linemen. Now that Donovan Hinish has called it a career, the Irish will be looking even harder.
The 2025 team captain put out an Instagram post with photos from his Fighting Irish playing career with the song "Keep The Wolves Away" by Uncle Lucius playing in the background. The caption read, "To say it was a blessing is an understatement, thank you for everything ND."
Irish Sports Daily's Matt Freeman cited a shoulder injury as the reason for calling it a career. On3's Mike Singer confirmed the accuracy of that information; Hinish is walking away from the sport for health purposes. According to multiple sources, the Notre Dame defensive lineman is "beat up" and wants to see what the rest of his life holds.
Why Donovan Hinish chose to step away from Notre Dame and football
Now stepping away from the game entirely, the junior will finish his career with 37 games played. Hinish recorded 57 career tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks. 2024 was easily his best season with the Fighting Irish, recording 35 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
One of those sacks will go down in Notre Dame history as Hinish recorded the game-ending sack in the Sugar Bowl to send the Irish to the Orange Bowl in last year's College Football Playoff. This season, injuries limited how much he could be on the field, finishing with just 12 tackles and a sack.
Even before Hinish's decision, Notre Dame's defensive tackle situation was far from settled. Jason Onye has applied for a medical hardship waiver for another year of eligibility and would be the most proven returning interior lineman, but his availability remains uncertain.
Elijah Hughes provides experience and flexibility, but not the type of proven interior anchor that changes how opponents game-plan. Behind them is a collection of younger, developmental players – talented, but largely untested and not ready to be leaned on for 40–50 high-leverage snaps against elite competition.
Donovan Hinish pulling the trigger on his retirement on Monday might have been one final way to help the Notre Dame football program. It gave the coaches a head start on the transfer portal a few days before it opens. That time should allow them to figure out who they want to go after.