Notre Dame Bolsters Roster with Portal Pickups for Title Run

Key additions at defensive line and wide receiver could be the missing pieces for the Fighting Irish.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 5:20am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a college football game, with sharp, overlapping planes of navy blue, gold, and other vibrant colors representing the teams in action. The fragmented, multi-perspective style captures the energy and intensity of the sport.Notre Dame's strategic portal additions bolster the roster with talent and depth, positioning the Fighting Irish for a potential national title run.Today in Pittsburgh

Notre Dame has taken a selective approach to the transfer portal, adding several high-impact players to address critical needs on the defensive line and at wide receiver. The additions of Francis Brewu, Keon Keeley, and Tionne Gray provide depth, flexibility, and talent to the defensive front, while Mylan Graham and Quincy Porter bring much-needed playmaking ability to the receiving corps. These portal pickups, combined with the program's strong high school recruiting, have the 2026 Notre Dame team poised to compete for a national championship.

Why it matters

While Notre Dame has traditionally built its roster through high school recruiting, strategic portal additions can help fill specific needs and elevate the team's championship aspirations. The defensive line and wide receiver positions were identified as areas requiring upgrades, and the portal acquisitions address those gaps, giving the Fighting Irish a more complete and versatile roster capable of making a title run.

The details

To bolster the defensive line, Notre Dame added Francis Brewu from Pittsburgh, Keon Keeley from Alabama, and Tionne Gray from Oregon. This group provides a diverse skill set and adds much-needed depth to the unit, allowing defensive line coach Charlie Patridge to rotate players and maintain a high level of production. On the offensive side, the Irish landed wide receivers Mylan Graham and Quincy Porter from Ohio State, giving quarterback CJ Carr additional playmaking threats to target.

  • In January 2026, Notre Dame landed transfer defensive lineman Francis Brewu from Pittsburgh.
  • Also in January 2026, the Fighting Irish added transfer defensive lineman Keon Keeley from Alabama.
  • In February 2026, Notre Dame acquired transfer defensive lineman Tionne Gray from Oregon.
  • In March 2026, the Irish landed transfer wide receivers Mylan Graham and Quincy Porter from Ohio State.

The players

Francis Brewu

A defensive lineman who transferred to Notre Dame from the University of Pittsburgh.

Keon Keeley

A defensive lineman who transferred to Notre Dame from the University of Alabama.

Tionne Gray

A defensive lineman who transferred to Notre Dame from the University of Oregon.

Mylan Graham

A wide receiver who transferred to Notre Dame from Ohio State University.

Quincy Porter

A wide receiver who transferred to Notre Dame from Ohio State University.

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What they’re saying

“Adding these players to the mix with Jordan Faison, Jaden Greathouse, and Micah Gilbert gives Notre Dame the most flexibility and talent in this room overall in recent vintage.”

— Pete Sampson, Reporter

What’s next

The 2026 Notre Dame team has the talent to win the national title. Now it's time for the Fighting Irish to perform on the field and translate their roster upgrades into on-field success.

The takeaway

Notre Dame's strategic use of the transfer portal has allowed the program to address critical needs and assemble a roster capable of competing for a national championship. By selectively adding high-impact players to complement their strong high school recruiting, the Fighting Irish have positioned themselves as a legitimate title contender for the 2026 season.