Former Ohio State wide receiver Mylan Graham has generated tremendous buzz this offseason for Notre Dame football, and the former 5-star recruit from the 2024 class deserves every bit of the attention.

The Indiana native once had interest in Notre Dame coming out of high school, but the fit didn’t make sense at that point. Now, after serving as a depth piece for the Buckeyes over the last two seasons, Graham has a second chance to create massive plays on a major college level.

From his early work in the weight room to a standout spring practice, everything points to a player ready to take a significant leap for head coach Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish offense in 2026.

The early reviews are very promising

The minute Graham arrived in South Bend, he began turning heads. His quick improvements as a worker in the weight room and on the field caught the attention of those around the program. There was a clear ascension from a work ethic perspective that immediately had folks raving. Then spring practice happened, and that is where the hype train truly took off for the Notre Dame fan base.

Everyone who has seen Graham, whether coming out of high school or during his brief glimpses in Columbus, knows this is an incredibly unique and fantastic athlete.

At 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, he has a profile that could potentially fit at Z receiver on the outside or in the slot, where he lined up frequently during spring ball. His explosiveness, after-catch ability, and talent to work vertically are an intriguing blend that makes him a movable chess piece for offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock and this Notre Dame offense.

The case for and against buying in

Now that spring is over, and the initial craze has settled, the question needs to be asked: should we fully buy into the Graham hype, or is it a little over the top?

Both sides have legitimate arguments. The talent has always been there, and the early reviews are encouraging. But Graham is still a player with barely any production on the college level. He also enters a room with a lot of mouths to feed at wide receiver with players like Jordan Faison, at tight end (which is always featured at Notre Dame), and through what will be a potent rushing attack.

Despite all of that, I am fully buying in. We often say in the Notre Dame world that a guy just moves different. That is Graham. His ability to stop-start, accelerate in and out of breaks, and get to top speed is a unique overall skill set that Notre Dame doesn’t have enough of. It’s exactly why they prioritized a player like Graham despite his lack of college production.

Expect to see Graham all over the field

After playing a lot in the slot during the spring, partly due to some availability issues for players like Jaden Greathouse and partly because his skill set fits well there, I expect to see Graham all over the place in 2026 for quarterback CJ Carr. He can win on the outside with his vertical elements; he can win after the catch from the slot, and he has showcased an improved ability to win through contact while continuing to add good size to his frame.

There is a very real world where Graham ends up being the No. 1 receiver for Notre Dame going into the 2026 college football season. If nothing else, his athleticism and upside provide an intriguing fit for a Notre Dame wide receiver core that should be extremely deep and diverse. But if you told me he ends up being the top receiver in that room, I wouldn’t be shocked. Not even slightly.

I also expect former Ohio State wide receiver Quincy Porter to add a lot of upside to the boundary position, along with the proven commodity of Faison in the slot and at Z. But either way, the Graham hype is worth buying into because his skill set and upside are exactly what this Notre Dame wide receiver room needs heading into next season.