The Notre Dame football team is clearly not all that interested in adding players through the transfer portal this spring. That doesn’t mean Marcus Freeman and company are staying away entirely.
Reporting earlier this week indicates that if there is one thing the Irish are interested in hauling in before the portal closes, it’s a special-teams kick returner. That’s not surprising considering that it’s a position that Freeman has gone after in the portal before. This time around, it’s Keelan Marion.
Marion has been one of the best returners in the country in the last few years for BYU. The Notre Dame football team is one of several programs that have at least tested the waters and tried to land the returner, so it’s not as cut and dried as they reached out and now they’re getting him.
BYU All-American transfer WR/KR Keelan Marion has heard from these 19 Schools since entering the Portal
— Hayes Fawcett (@Hayesfawcett3) April 21, 2025
In his career he’s totaled 76 Catches for 1,125 YDs & 12 total TDs
Also has 38 Kick Return Attempts for 881 YDS & 3 TDshttps://t.co/N8tDFdeBDU pic.twitter.com/6SenFBdDdx
Notre Dame football targets top returner to fill key special teams role
The Cougars’ All-American returner has been an asset both on the punt and kick return team. Though of late, he’s focused almost entirely on the kick return game. He’s got the added bonus of someone who can also help the wide receiver corps, even if he’s not going to be the primary weapon there.
In his career, Marion has 76 Catches for 1,125 yards and 12 total TDs while also returning 38 Kick Return Attempts for 881 yards and 2 TDs. Last year he hauled down 24 passes for 346 yards and a touchdown while also returning 18 kicks for 472 yards and those 2 touchdowns. Among those, he had a 100-yard return.
According to Hayes Fawcett, the Irish are fighting for the returner with schools such as Colorado, Miami, Penn State, Florida State, Tennessee, Ohio State, UCLA and Oklahoma. At the moment, there’s really no indication as to when the former BYU and UCONN player might choose where he’ll go next.
It’s not hard to see where Marion would fit with ND. He could slide right into the role that Jayden Harrison filled in 2024. Now the Notre Dame football team just needs to find a way to lock him down and bring him to South Bend.