Notre Dame’s transfer portal plans will hinge on one player to figure out the offensive priorities
Notre Dame has one player they need to make sure that they retain this offseason.
Notre Dame football is in a great spot from a roster perspective. With how well head coach Marcus Freeman has recruited over the years, it should be no surprise that it has created a surplus of talent. There are very few holes on this roster, and that is a testament to the program’s ability to retain its homegrown talent.
The transfer portal opens up on Jan. 2, and like every college football program, Notre Dame is hoping to add some solid players to its roster, while also retaining some of its top talent.
With both Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price officially declaring for the 2026 NFL Draft, which was anticipated, the running back room will look much different next season. There is still a ton of talent in the group, but barely any experience to speak of.
Running back domino to consider
With two running backs leaving the roster, the group’s depth will be tested a good bit. There is also an expectation that Gi’bran Payne could be on the move during the portal cycle to try and find a better opportunity to play. If that happens, that puts the Notre Dame running back room in a somewhat tough spot. With freshman Javian Osborne and Jonaz Walton coming in the 2026 recruiting class, however, the talent could be enough to soften the blow.
Even if Payne ends up entering, Notre Dame should have no need to find a portal addition of itself. A group of Aneyas Williams, Nolan James Jr., Kedren Young, Osborne, and Walton is more than good enough to be one of the better units in the country next season. If there were any more defections, however, things could get a bit dicey. Williams has been a hot topic of conversation over the last several weeks, with some fearing that he might eye other opportunities.
After touching the football just 26 times this season, even less usage than the year prior, there have been rumors about some frustration with Williams’ role. It is not a foregone conclusion that Williams leaves, and several people feel good about where things stand, but things can change quickly in the portal world. Notre Dame needs to do whatever it can to retain Williams for next season.
The importance of Aneyas Williams
The importance of retaining Williams starts with the obvious: He is a very good football player. He is also your only semblance of experience in the backfield, a commodity that can’t be ignored. Without him, you would be depending on three players with freshman eligibility and a talented running back coming off a serious knee injury. That is not an ideal depth chart, even if there is plenty of talent.
If Williams did leave in this hypothetical, Notre Dame would likely have to tap the portal for a veteran option. While that wouldn’t be the end of the world necessarily, you never want to have to go into the portal when you have a better player potentially leaving.
Getting good running backs to South Bend won’t be difficult after all that Love just accomplished, but for the sake of the 2026 team, having Williams a part of the equation would be massive.
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