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Notre Dame HC Marcus Freeman on spring portal: 'We're not actively seeking to add to our roster'

IMG_7504by: Jack Soble04/13/25jacksoble56
marcus freeman-9
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman. (Mike Miller, Blue & Gold)

The spring transfer portal window opens on Wednesday, but Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman does not plan acquiring players who enter it.

At least, not at this time.

“We’re not actively seeking to add to our roster,” Freeman said. “We’re really happy what we’ve got.”

Freeman and the Irish added eight players from the portal in December and January: nickel back Devonta Smith (Alabama), wide receivers Malachi Fields (Virginia) and Will Pauling (Wisconsin), tight end Ty Washington (Arkansas), defensive tackles Jared Dawson (Louisville) and Elijah Hughes (USC), kicker Noah Burnette (North Carolina) and safety Jalen Stroman (Virginia Tech).

Notre Dame has added players from the spring transfer portal under Freeman in the past. The Irish acquired former Harvard defensive tackle Chris Smith in 2022 and a pair of transfers, former Rhode Island safety Antonio Carter II and former Penn State running back Devyn Ford, in 2023.

Ford’s addition was largely a response to the departure of former Irish running back Logan Diggs, so it’s possible Freeman reconsiders his plan based on which of his own players choose to leave. But for now, barring the unexpected, Notre Dame will stand pat.

Freeman did, however, leave the door open for the unexpected.

“If something comes to our attention and we see adds value to our roster and our program, then we have to have a conversation about it,” Freeman said. “But there’s nothing intentional right now about these upcoming weeks.”

Notre Dame is likely to see players on its current roster exit. Because everyone on the 2024 team chose to stay through the College Football Playoff, opportunities were limited for players without real game film to leave. The Irish said goodbye to six of their players in the winter portal, a lower number than normal in 2025.

Notre Dame currently sits at 95 scholarship players, according to Blue & Gold’s Tyler Horka. In the past, that would mean the Irish would need at least 10 players to exit on their own volition or encourage some to pack their bags themselves. However, the 85-man scholarship limit is likely to turn into a 105-man roster limit in the near future.

“If a guy on our current roster is interested in getting into the portal, I’m sure we’ll have those conversations,” Freeman said. “At the end of the day, figure out what’s best for them, for us.

“We’re going to practice, we’re going to be together, we’re going to work, and if somebody decides to go into the portal, then we’ll adapt.”

Unlike most teams, Notre Dame will indeed hold three practices after the Blue-Gold Game. Due to the length of the 2024-25 CFP, which ended in the national championship game on Jan. 20, Freeman pushed spring practice back about two weeks. The Blue-Gold Game could not be rescheduled.

It’s also worth noting that Freeman said Notre Dame would like to narrow its quarterback competition between Steve Angeli, Kenny Minchey and CJ Carr from three players to two by the start of fall camp. Depending on whether or not a move is made on that front in the next two weeks, a signal-caller could hit the portal as well.

“We’ve got to sit down and have conversations about what’s best for our program, what’s best for our quarterbacks, and we’ll make those decisions in the future,” Freeman said.

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