Notre Dame absolutely needs some defensive lineman \u2014 defensive tackles in particular. They also need a kicker and probably a wide receiver. They aren\u2019t luxury items, and they aren\u2019t depth pieces \u2014 the needs are actual needs.<\/p>\n
And we all know that.<\/p>\n
But let\u2019s get to the math for second because that\u2019s why we\u2019re here. People are getting upset that Notre Dame\u2019s roster is withering away. Multiple transfer portal departures a day and no commitments makes the anger some very low-hanging fruit. So let\u2019s talk about it real quick\u2026 who said Notre Dame needs 105 scholarship players on the roster anyways?<\/p>\n
IN<\/p>\n
OUT<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
QB \u2013 Kenny Minchey \u2013 Kentucky<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
S \u2013 Taebron Bennie-Powell<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
RB \u2013 Gi\u2019Bran Payne \u2013 Cincinnati<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
S \u2013 JaDon Blair \u2013 Missouri<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
CB \u2013 Chance Tucker<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
S \u2013 Ben Minich<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
K \u2013 Marcello Diomede<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
DB \u2013 Karson Hobbs<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
DE \u2013 Joshua Burnham \u2013 Indiana<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
DT \u2013 Armel Mukam<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
CB \u2013 Cree Thomas \u2013 Colorado<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
QB \u2013 Anthony Rezac \u2013 South Dakota St.<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
WR \u2013 KK Smith<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
LB \u2013 Preston Zinter<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
LB \u2013 Bodie Kahoun<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
LB \u2013 Anthony Sacca<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
WR \u2013 Scrap Richardson<\/p>\n
For years and years, the NCAA rules had the 85 man limit. That\u2019s 20 players less than what it is now, and somehow Notre Dame (and every school in the country) fielded a team each year.<\/p>\n
When the new NCAA rule went through, Notre Dame was looking to have a roster that consisted of roughly 95 \u201cscholarship\u201d players and 10 \u201cwalk-ons\u201d each year. It makes sense from a financial standpoint, and it\u2019s just a nice part of the college football culture as well.<\/p>\n
Advertisement<\/p>\n
So\u2026 here\u2019s what it looks like for 2026 as of very early Thursday morning:<\/p>\n
Player\/Class<\/p>\n
Freshmen<\/p>\n
Sophomore<\/p>\n
Junior<\/p>\n
Senior<\/p>\n
Graduate<\/p>\n
Quarterback<\/p>\n
Noah Grubbs, Teddy Jarrard<\/p>\n
Blake Hebert<\/p>\n
C.J. Carr<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
`<\/p>\n
Running Back<\/p>\n
Javian Osborne, Jonaz Walton<\/p>\n
Nolan James<\/p>\n
Aneyas Williams, Kedren Young<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
Tight End<\/p>\n
Preston Fryzel, Ian Premer<\/p>\n
James Flanigan<\/p>\n
Jack Larsen<\/p>\n
Cooper Flanagan<\/p>\n
Ty Washington<\/p>\n
Wide Receiver<\/p>\n
Dylan Faison, Bubba Frazier, Kaydon Finley, Devin Fitzgerald, Brayden Robinson<\/p>\n
Elijah Burress, Jerome Bettis Jr.<\/p>\n
Cam Williams, Micah Gilbert, Logan Saldate<\/p>\n
Jaden Greathouse, Jordan Faison<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
Center<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
Cameron Herron<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
Joe Otting<\/p>\n
Ashton Craig<\/p>\n
Guard<\/p>\n
Sullivan Garvin, Tyler Merrill, Gregory Patrick<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
Chris Terek, Sullivan Absher, Devan Houstan<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
Tackle<\/p>\n
Ben Nichols, Grayson McKeogh, Charlie Thom<\/p>\n
Will Black, Owen Strebig, Matty Augustine<\/p>\n
Peter Jones, Anthonie Knapp, Styles Prescod, Guerby Lambert<\/p>\n
Charles Jagusah<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
Defensive Tackle<\/p>\n
Tiki Hola, Elijah Golden<\/p>\n
Christopher Burgess, Davion Dixon, Gordy Sulfsted<\/p>\n
Cole Mullins, Sean Sevillano<\/p>\n
Brenan Vernon<\/p>\n
Elijah Hughes, Jason Onye<\/p>\n
Defensive End<\/p>\n
Ebenezer Ewetade, Rodney Dunham<\/p>\n
Dominik Hulak, Joseph Reiff<\/p>\n
Bryce Young, Loghan Thomas<\/p>\n
Boubacar Traore<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
Linebacker<\/p>\n
Thomas Davis Jr., Kobe Clapper<\/p>\n
Anthony Sacca, Madden Faraimo, Ko\u2019o Kia,<\/p>\n
Teddy Rezac, Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa, Kahanu Kia<\/p>\n
Drayk Bowen, Jaiden Ausberry<\/p>\n
Jaylen Sneed<\/p>\n
Safety<\/p>\n
Ayden Pouncey, Joey O\u2019Brien, Nick Reddish<\/p>\n
Ethan Long, Brandon Logan<\/p>\n
Brauntae Johnson<\/p>\n
Adon Shuler, Luke Talich<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
Cornerback<\/p>\n
Chaston Smith, Khary Adams<\/p>\n
Dallas Golden, Mark Zachery<\/p>\n
Leonard Moore<\/p>\n
Christian Gray<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
Specialists<\/p>\n
Jasper Scaife<\/p>\n
Erik Schmidt<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
\u2013<\/p>\n
Totals<\/p>\n
29\/105 (29)<\/p>\n
51\/105 (22)<\/p>\n
71\/105 (20)<\/p>\n
86\/105 (15)<\/p>\n
91\/105 (5)<\/p>\n
Compare that chart to the one in 2018. Remember, in 2018, Notre Dame went undefeated in the regular season under the 85 man rule.<\/p>\n
Position\/Year<\/p>\n
Freshman<\/p>\n
Sophomore<\/p>\n
Junior<\/p>\n
Senior<\/p>\n
5th Year<\/p>\n
Quarterback<\/p>\n
Phil Jurkovec<\/p>\n
Avery Davis*<\/p>\n
Ian Book*<\/p>\n
Brandon Wimbush*<\/p>\n
Running Back<\/p>\n
Jahmir Smith, C\u2019Bo Flemister<\/p>\n
Jafar Armstrong*<\/p>\n
Tony Jones Jr.*<\/p>\n
Dexter Williams<\/p>\n
Tight End<\/p>\n
George Takacs, Tommy Tremble<\/p>\n
Cole Kmet, Brock Wright<\/p>\n
Alize\u2019 Mack*<\/p>\n
Nic Weishar<\/p>\n
Wide Receiver<\/p>\n
Micah Jones, Kevin Austin, Braden Lenzy, Lawrence Keys III<\/p>\n
Michael Young<\/p>\n
Chase Claypool, Javon McKinley*<\/p>\n
Chris Finke*, Miles Boykin*<\/p>\n
Center<\/p>\n
Luke Jones<\/p>\n
Sam Mustipher<\/p>\n
Guard<\/p>\n
John Dirksen<\/p>\n
Dillan Gibbons*<\/p>\n
Tommy Kraemer*<\/p>\n
Trevor Ruhland*<\/p>\n
Alex Bars<\/p>\n
Tackle<\/p>\n
Cole Mabry, Jarrett Patterson<\/p>\n
Josh Lugg*, Robert Hainsey, Aaron Banks*<\/p>\n
Liam Eichenberg*<\/p>\n
Defensive Tackle<\/p>\n
Jayson Ademilola, Ja\u2019mion Franklin<\/p>\n
Kurt Hinish, Darnell Ewell*, Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa<\/p>\n
Micah Dew-Treadway*, Jerry Tillery<\/p>\n
Jonathan Bonner<\/p>\n
Defensive End<\/p>\n
Justin Ademilola<\/p>\n
Kofi Wardlow*<\/p>\n
Ade Ogundeji*, Daelin Hayes, Khalid Kareem, Julian Okwara<\/p>\n
Linebacker<\/p>\n
Bo Bauer, Ovio Oghoufo, Jack Lamb<\/p>\n
Drew White*, Jordan Genmark Heath<\/p>\n
Jonathan Jones*, Jamir Jones, DJ Morgan<\/p>\n
Te\u2019von Coney<\/p>\n
Drue Tranquill<\/p>\n
Rover<\/p>\n
Shayne Simon<\/p>\n
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah*, Isaiah Robertson<\/p>\n
Asmar Bilal<\/p>\n
Safety<\/p>\n
Derrik Allen, Paul Moala, Houston Griffith<\/p>\n
Devin Studstill, Jalen Elliott, Alohi Gilman*<\/p>\n
Nicco Fertitta, Nick Coleman<\/p>\n
Cornerback<\/p>\n
Joe Wilkins Jr., Tariq Bracy, D.J. Brown, Noah Boykin<\/p>\n
Julian Love, Troy Pride Jr., Donte Vaughn<\/p>\n
Shaun Crawford**<\/p>\n
Specialists<\/p>\n
John Doerer<\/p>\n
John Shannon*<\/p>\n
Justin Yoon<\/p>\n
Tyler Newsome<\/p>\n
27\/85 (27)<\/p>\n
45\/85 (18)<\/p>\n
65\/85 (20)<\/p>\n
79\/85 (14)<\/p>\n
85\/85 (6)<\/p>\n
So while it\u2019s certainly within reason to yearn for the players of need, the Irish are still currently sitting on a very strong roster. Don\u2019t worry so much about the math. Math is dumb.<\/p>\n
And if you made it this far\u2026<\/p>\n
There has been good news reported about DE Keon Keeley and WR Mylan Graham. No, they didn\u2019t commit, but there are some positive things out there. Notre Dame has been remarkably quiet as far as leaking any info out, so I take the positive news as some major positives \u2014 but we shall see.<\/p>\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/media1.giphy.com\/media\/v1.Y2lkPTc5MGI3NjExMGFpeHNqb2sxMmhwZ2huZTdrNDl5Y3B3bXNwNnBvZ3JibzFmZGc3OCZlcD12MV9pbnRlcm5hbF9naWZfYnlfaWQmY3Q9Zw\/Id5nckcUV26TL7WT3S\/giphy.gif\")
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