The kicking position was such a weakness for Notre Dame in 2025 that head coach Marcus Freeman had to dismiss the idea of pulling someone off the soccer team in the middle of the season. With the addition of Spencer Porath, it's unlikely the position will be a worry in 2026.
Porath announced he'd committed to Marcus Freeman and Co. on Tuesday night, the third portal addition of the day and seventh since Monday morning. The newest member of the roster is one of the biggest gets for the Irish coach, even if fans might have overlooked it heading into the winter.
Spencer Porath spent the last two seasons with the Purdue Boilermakers. His time with the Big Ten school means he understands what's required to kick in the state, and he understands how to kick against Power 4 opponents. Both tidbits will be huge for Notre Dame, which has struggled with its place kickers for the last two seasons.
Notre Dame lands Spencer Porath as answer to long-running kicking struggles
As a true freshman, Porath hit 7-of-11 field goal attempts while nailing all 17 extra point attempts. He did struggle with mid-range kicks in 2024, going 0-for-3 from 30-39 yards out. However, he was 1-for-1 from 40+ yards.
This past season, the former Boilermaker took the next step and went 15-of-17. That included going 6-for-8 from more than 40 yards. He also booted a career-long 53-yard kick. He also went 24-for-24 on extra points.
Notre Dame has a few more irons in the fire, but the speed at which the program has moved this week has been impressive after initially making plenty of folks nervous about the overall plan.