It feels like Notre Dame football blinked and found itself five games into the 2026 college football season. The Fighting Irish sit at 5-0 with the No. 3 ranking in the latest AP poll. Head coach Marcus Freeman’s squad still has every one of its goals in front of it.

In modern college football, the transfer portal dominates the conversation every offseason. Notre Dame under Freeman will always major in high school recruiting. Still, the staff is smart enough to know the portal has to play some role, and that led the Irish to add eight transfer portal players this offseason.

After months of projecting who would break out and who would contribute, we now have a five-game sample size. That is enough for an early read on which portal additions are hits, which are misses, and which remain incomplete.

Here is how I would grade all eight so far.

WR Quincy Porter

Grade: Incomplete

This one is an easy incomplete. Porter had a January knee injury that required surgery. As he recovered, many were optimistic the former five-star Ohio State signee would be available early this season and become a difference-maker for the Irish.

That has not been the case. Porter required another knee surgery, which will sideline him for the entire 2026 season. We have yet to see the 6-foot-4, 215-pound pass catcher in a live game, and that debut will have to wait until 2027.

Can Porter still become a tremendous player in South Bend? It is very possible. There is simply no on-field evidence yet to call him a hit or a miss, so this is a wait-and-see situation.

WR Mylan Graham

Grade: D to D+

Through five games, Graham has just three receptions for 32 yards. He was expected to be a potential difference-maker, especially after a strong spring. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound receiver was a five-star prospect when he originally signed with Ohio State, and for good reason. His speed and explosiveness jump off the film.

However, he has not made any type of impact. That includes zero offensive snaps last week against North Carolina. Freeman said the reasoning had more to do with the players in front of Graham than with anything Graham is or isn’t doing. It is a positive that players like Jordan Chazón have taken a step forward.

Even so, the fact that Graham can’t carve out a role is troubling. Hopefully this grade changes in a big way, but for now, it simply hasn’t been good enough.

DT Tionne Gray

Grade: A

Gray has been a tremendous addition. The 6-foot-5, 325-pound defensive tackle arrived in South Bend a bit overweight from his time at Oregon. Since then, he has cut weight and looks tremendous. He has also earned a starting job on the Fighting Irish defense.

In five games, Gray has nine total tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, and a sack. Those numbers aren’t staggering, but you have to understand his role. He is a true nose tackle who handles a large portion of the dirty work, and his quickness for his size continues to pop on film.

Gray has become a mainstay in the middle of this defense, and his value goes well beyond the box score. He receives an A grade for his early contributions.

DT Francis Brewu

Grade: A

Like Gray, Brewu has been a tremendous pickup, this time from Pittsburgh. At just 6-foot-1 and about 285 pounds, Brewu plays with excellent leverage and physicality for his size. He has also cracked the starting lineup.

Through five games, Brewu has 13 total tackles, three tackles for loss, and two sacks. His ability as an interior penetrator has been awesome. On top of that, he is a plus run defender. Pound for pound, Brewu possesses some of the best overall strength on the entire roster.

The defensive tackle additions as a whole have been tremendous for Notre Dame. That is why Brewu earns an A.

EDGE Keon Keeley

Grade: C+

Keeley has been rock solid in the opportunities he’s received. The former five-star Alabama signee is a strong run defender at 6-foot-5 and 270-plus pounds. However, he has not contributed much as a pass rusher yet.

In five games, Keeley has just four total tackles, but he has been consistent in setting the edge. I’m giving him a C+ for now, though you could argue for a B-. He has been a good contributor without being a standout, and there is still developmental upside to tap into.

CB DJ McKinney

Grade: A

The former Colorado cornerback chose to return to college through the portal instead of entering the 2026 NFL Draft. He carried some early top-100 grades before ever playing a game for Notre Dame, and he has lived up to that hype.

His stat line is solid, with five total tackles, an interception, two pass breakups, and a tackle for loss. The tape tells a better story. McKinney has been a stellar performer opposite Leonard Moore, excelling in man coverage while also showing strong zone discipline.

With Moore battling through a concussion, McKinney will be the top cornerback on this team if Moore misses any time. He has exceeded most Notre Dame fans’ expectations, and he earns an A.

CB Jayden Sanders

Grade: B-

The former Michigan standout is just a sophomore. Even so, he came to South Bend and earned playing time in a heavily talented Irish secondary. Sanders has five total tackles and three pass breakups and has been rock solid overall.

I’m giving him a B- because of some struggles in coverage, including a touchdown he allowed on a double move against Wisconsin. He has still shown plenty of encouraging signs, and as a young player, I’m optimistic about what the future holds. He just hasn’t been quite as good as McKinney, although he has become a very solid rotational piece.

K Spencer Porath

Grade: A

For the first time in a long time, Notre Dame has a kicker who can make a big kick when it matters most. The former Purdue standout has made six of seven field goals and all 26 of his extra points. His first field goal in an Irish uniform was a 52-yarder in the opener against Wisconsin, and he made it with ease.

With multiple years of eligibility remaining after 2026, it feels like Notre Dame has finally found the answer to its placekicking woes of the last two years. Porath has been as advertised and maybe a little more.

This is an A grade, and I contemplated giving it an A+. Porath has been a tremendous addition for Freeman, special teams coordinator Marty Biagi, and this Fighting Irish team.