Notre Dame football continuing to navigate the transfer portal for defensive tackles, and there could be a new name to know
There are transfer portal forecasts and rumors flying around everywhere right now, yet Notre Dame football has stood firm with their objective. Their playoff run is the most important thing right now, but the work from a portal perspective is absolutely happening internally but the public is still on standby. One position that is a […]
There are transfer portal forecasts and rumors flying around everywhere right now, yet Notre Dame football has stood firm with their objective. Their playoff run is the most important thing right now, but the work from a portal perspective is absolutely happening internally but the public is still on standby. One position that is a huge topic of conversation is defensive tackle, and for very good reason.
After this season, the Fighting Irish are set to lose both Rylie Mills and Howard Cross III to the NFL. The future of Jason Onye is also still very much up in the air, so you are going to have to find some legitimate answers in that room. Notre Dame could be in the market for not one, but two defensive tackles because of the defections in that room.
One interesting name that just entered the portal is Utah defensive lineman Keanu Tanuvasa, who will have two years of eligibility remaining. Tanuvasa was limited to seven games in 2024, but was still able to capture a Big 12 All-Conference Honorable Mention honor.
In total, Tanuvasa played in 24 games over three seasons with the Utes. During that stretch, he recorded 50 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, four sacks, and five pass breakups. He also recorded a forced fumble as well.
At 6-4 and 301 pounds, Tanuvasa brings an impressive blend of quickness and strength to the table. That combination allows him to play from multiple alignments, and do a lot of the dirty work at the point of attack. Tanuvasa also has the movement skills to create some negatives behind the line of scrimmage, especially in more of an attack-oriented defensive system.
There’s no telling if Notre Dame is going to have much interest, but they should. With the team losing two starters, having someone who could potentially project to both nose and three technique would be huge. Tanuvasa would also bring experience that the unit just lacks right now, as well as some playmaking upside.
