After a slow start to the transfer portal process this offseason, Notre Dame football ended up putting together a tremendous eight-man class. The defensive line was the main point of emphasis, landing defensive end Keon Keeley (Alabama), as well as defensive tackles Francis Brewu (Pitt) and Tionne Gray (Oregon). All three were exciting additions.

With spring practice set to begin on Friday, there is already a ton of buzz coming out about this Fighting Irish team that head coach Marcus Freeman and his staff have put together for the 2026 college football season. Each of those three additions mentioned are creating a fair amount of buzz, especially the interior duo of Brewu and Gray. When talking to folks around the Irish program, I can’t help but to get excited for what the defensive tackle room could look like next season.

Whether it is early feedback in the weight room, as a teammate, or the work they are putting in on the field, those two talented defensive tackles get mentioned constantly. With Armel Mukam and Jason Onye both returning, along with Elijah Hughes, these key signings have a chance to create one of the better defensive tackle rooms in the country.

Francis Brewu is exceeding expectations 

Most people have probably seen the weight room feats of Brewu so far, including his 475-pound bench press about a week ago. Despite him being just around 6-1 and 280 pounds, he is reportedly pound for pound the strongest player on the Notre Dame roster. The early feedback is extremely positive about Brewu, who is expected to become an impact starter for the Irish this fall. Perhaps the most interesting part about him is his unique versatility.

When you look at his underwhelming size, most would assume that Brewu is a natural three technique. While he can play that alignment, many believe he might be even better at nose tackle due to his combination of power and natural leverage. Brewu just doesn’t get moved at the point of attack very easily, offering a ton of upside as both a run stopper and penetrator.

Tionne Gray is growing quickly

At 6-5 and 333 pounds, Gray brings a unique size profile that Notre Dame hasn’t had in recent memory. It sounds like there has been an intentionality to reshape Gray’s frame, and there has been progress on that end already. The great news is that Gray is reportedly a strong worker, so that transition has been a pretty smooth one.

Barring something unforeseen, the former Oregon defensive tackle is going to play a ton for Notre Dame this upcoming season. The biggest area of focus has been about conditioning an getting Gray in the best shape of his young college career. With three years of eligibility remaining, there is a lot to be excited about with Gray for the long-term, as well.

2026 might just be a taste for just how good he can be, but that doesn’t diminish the short-term upside that he also brings to the table.