Notre Dame linebacker Anthony Sacca is back on the move.

The true freshman has entered the transfer portal after one season in South Bend, a development first reported by Matt Zenitz. Sacca arrived at Notre Dame as a four-star recruit in the 2025 class and was viewed internally as a long-term piece of the Fighting Irish defense.

Sacca is seeking a new opportunity

At roughly 6 foot 3 and 239 pounds, Sacca brought an intriguing blend of size and versatility to the second level. He played with a deep safety background in high school, giving him coverage instincts that separated him from many linebackers in his class. That profile made him a major recruiting win for Marcus Freeman, especially given Sacca’s family ties as the son of a former Penn State and NFL quarterback, Tony Sacca.

Former defensive coordinator Al Golden played a significant role in Sacca’s recruitment, and the landscape around him shifted quickly. Golden’s departure, followed by linebacker coach Max Bullough leaving for Michigan State, altered the developmental path Sacca originally signed up for. Add in a crowded linebacker room, and a redshirt trajectory with limited early snaps became the likely outcome.

The portal move makes sense in that context. Sacca remains a high ceiling linebacker with positional flexibility and room to grow physically and mentally. He may not have cracked Notre Dame’s rotation immediately, but at the right landing spot, his upside and pedigree will be hard to ignore.

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