Notre Dame football should have their eyes set on a small school star to add once the transfer portal officially opens up
Notre Dame could have a Transfer Portal target that makes a lot of sense.
Marcus Freeman has done wonders for the Notre Dame program since taking over as the head coach. The recruiting operation is superb for the Fighting Irish, creating outstanding depth all over the roster. While this team will always prioritize high school recruiting, the Irish staff has also had success with the transfer portal over the last few years.
Heading into the 2026 college football season, there aren’t a ton of holes on their roster. Tight end is one position that enters next season with some of the biggest question marks right now. There is talent there, including Cooper Flanigan, James Flanigan, and five-star freshman Ian Premer, but there is almost no proven production coming back.
That could make the portal an intriguing option at the position for Notre Dame. An extremely interesting tight end option entered this week when Tulsa star Brody Foley announced his intentions to enter when it officially opens on Jan. 2. While Foley will be labeled as a “small school star,” his game is anything but small.
He’s a player that Notre Dame should absolutely do its homework on. If used properly, he can develop into a very important producer for the team, assuming they have a legitimate interest.
Brody Foley’s background
Foley is actually originally from the Midwest, coming out of Cincinnati (Ohio) Anderson back in the 2022 recruiting class. If the high school sounds familiar to Notre Dame fans, the program actually just picked up a commitment from 2027 cornerback Ace Alton from the same school. The talented tight end received an offer from the Bearcats upon coming out, a program from which several members of the coaching staff came.
The 6-6, 260-pound tight end originally opted for the Indiana Hoosiers. Foley spent three seasons in Bloomington, playing in 20 total games. He decided to transfer this past offseason and joined the Tulsa program. He has taken advantage of that newest opportunity.
In 11 games with the Golden Hurricane this season, Foley managed to haul in 37 receptions for 528 yards and seven touchdowns. That includes two stellar performances against Oklahoma State and Oregon State, the two Power Five schools on their schedule. In those two contests, Foley collected 10 receptions for 161 yards and a touchdown.
With tremendous size and versatility, Foley would make a lot of sense for the Irish. His familiarity might also pay significant dividends as Notre Dame considers adding proven production to that younger room.
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