Notre Dame football is going to enter the offseason with a massive need at defensive tackle. Both Howard Cross III and Rylie Mills will be gone after this season, and the future of Jason Onye remains in question. That is a lot of production lost in one offseason.

There is a reason to believe that the Fighting Irish count also be targeting two defensive tackles in the portal, and there is also the belief out there that money will be no issue in finding those replacements. One thing is certain, Notre Dame needs to find some impact size inside heading into the 2025 season.

With players continuing to enter the portal every day, this list could change quickly, but there are already some intriguing options out there. Here are a few talented defensive tackles to be aware of. 

James Thompson Jr. (Wisconsin)

Going into the 2024 season, Thompson had a ton of fanfare from the NFL Draft community. Many believed he was going to build off of his previous two seasons where he recorded 52 total tackles, 13 tackles for loss, and five sacks. At 6-5 and 295 pounds, Thompson is a smooth athlete that can play from multiple alignments. He appears to be the perfect three technique replacement for the departed Rylie Mills this offseason.

Cole Brevard (Purdue)

There have been a lot of people connecting the dots between Brevard and Notre Dame, for several reasons. He is from Carmel, Indiana, and the Irish just saw him this season during their matchup against Purdue. Brevard, who began his career with Penn State, also brings size to the table as well. At 6-3 and 333 pounds, he is extremely difficult to move at the point of attack. Notre Dame has needed more size, and Brevard certainly provides that.

Parker Petersen (Tulane)

An underrated entrant recently, there is a lot to like about Petersen. At 6-4 and 301 pounds, he brings a nice combination of size, movement skills, and relentless motor. Despite playing on a deep defensive line, Petersen has recorded 21 total tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks. There isn’t anything flashy about Petersen but his first step is impressive, and he plays with incredible effort. He would be a nose tackle in the Notre Dame system.

Travis Shaw (UNC)

You are seeing a trend with this list of defensive tackles, size. Shaw was once considered a huge recruit, but he certainly hasn’t played up to that reputation yet. He is coming off of his best season so far, collecting 22 total tackles and three tackles for loss. At 6-5 and 330 pounds, there’s no doubting his power profile and natural size. Shaw is not going to excite anyone from an athleticism perspective.

Keeshawn Silver (Kentucky)

Silver is a massive kid at 6-4 and 336 pounds, and everyone knows his role. He is there to take up space and play the run, which he does a great job holding his ground at the point of attack. Silver will never give you much as a pass rusher, having only one career sacks in four years split between Kentucky and North Carolina. He would be a quality depth player, but not a starter ideally.