There’s a position change I expect Notre Dame football to make this offseason following a hectic transfer portal period 

The Notre Dame secondary could look a bit different heading into the 2026 college football season.

Ryan Roberts — National College Football Writer
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Apr 19, 2025; Boulder, CO, USA; Colorado Buffaloes cornerback DJ McKinney (8) during the spring game at Folsom Field. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images

It has been a hectic week for head coach Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame program in the transfer portal, filling several pressing needs on the roster. After a slow start, the Fighting Irish have managed to recover beautifully during the second week. We have seen the Irish make huge additions at wide receiver, defensive line, secondary, and even kicker. 

For the secondary, the Notre Dame staff has brought in two different cornerbacks during this period: DJ McKinney (Colorado) and Jayden Sanders (Michigan). While Sanders, who will only be a true sophomore next season, is viewed as a developmental guy with a bright future, McKinney is a proven commodity with just one season remaining. He isn’t coming to South Bend to be a depth piece. McKinney is coming to start, and he should opposite of Leonard Moore.

There will be a fascinating conversation about where each cornerback will play, centered mostly on McKinney and returning starter Christian Gray. We will get to that debate, and my expectation, but for a second, let’s appreciate a fantastic new addition to Mike Mickens‘ secondary.

DJ McKinney’s career background

McKinney was originally considered a consensus three-star player by all major recruiting platforms in the 2022 class. He originally signed with Oklahoma State, where he spent the first two years of his college career. During the 2023 season, McKinney played in 14 total games. He ended that year with 38 total tackles and five pass breakups.

Over the last two seasons, McKinney has been learning under head coach Deion Sanders at Colorado. The All-Big 12 cornerback ended his time in Boulder with 97 total tackles, four interceptions, and 14 pass breakups. If not for a late-season injury, there is a good chance that McKinney would have been a part of the 2026 NFL Draft class.

Instead, the former Colleyville (Texas) Heritage star is heading to South Bend for his fifth and final year. The talent is easy to see when you pop on the film. If Notre Dame can get the most out of McKinney, it could have the best cornerback duo the team has had in a very long time.

McKinney’s role in the Notre Dame defense

While at Colorado, McKinney was exclusively an outside cornerback who did his best work in the boundary. He is a physical press-man cornerback who loves to get his hands on wide receivers early, while also having the recovery speed to match down the field. With that athletic skill set, McKinney feels like a good fit at the field cornerback spot for the Fighting Irish, which is occupied by Gray. With a longer frame, McKinney doesn’t feel like a natural fit inside as a nickel corner.

As an outside cornerback, McKinney is well-liked by the NFL. If not for an injury and an up-and-down 2025 season, there was a good chance that the former Colorado standout would have entered the 2026 NFL Draft. If he did and had a solid overall draft process, he could have been a top-100 selection. This is an extremely talented football player with even more upside to tap into.

Where does Christian Gray play in 2026?

Based on what I have heard and been told, I do think Gray will get a long look at nickel. If nothing else, there could be an intent to cross-train the talented cover man. Notre Dame has an intent to get its five best defensive backs on the field, and Gray is in that conversation. Just how easy a fit he would be in the slot should be determined this offseason, or whether the Irish staff would have to make a different move.

If Gray does take to the nickel position well, it could offer you a ton of versatility on the back end. With Gray’s experience on the outside, if there is a need for Moore to shadow someone in the slot, it would make for an easy adjustment.

With Gray’s struggles to match vertically outside, nickel does feel like a good potential fix. This has the makings of one of the very best secondaries that we have seen in South Bend in a very long time. Getting those three, along with Adon Shuler and Tae Johnson at safety, all together almost feels like a cheat code.

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