College Football Playoff Program Adds 300-Pound Transfer

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Matt De Lima | Last updated Jan 11, 2025 4:03 PM ET

Athletic, big-bodied interior run defenders aren't easy to find, but the Notre Dame Fighting Irish found one in transfer commitment Jared Dawson, a former Louisville defensive tackle.

Last season for the Cardinals, Dawson earned 19 tackles, four sacks and one forced fumble. Across four seasons in Louisville, the 6-foot-2, 305-pounder contributed 51 total tackles, one pass defended, nine sacks and two forced fumbles.

Dawson committed to Louisville in 2019 with offers from Air Force, Army, Navy, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Missouri and others. He enrolled with the team in 2020. The former three-star recruit was the No. 775 ranked player in 247Sports composite rankings.

Breaking: Senior DT Jared Dawson is signing with @NDFootball he tells me for @TheIrishTribune

Dawson is a 6’2 305lbs. Defensive Tackle previously with the Louisville Cardinals.

This past season he racked up 19 tackles (11 solo) 8 assists and 1 forced fumble. pic.twitter.com/r8CzuSxd2K
— Bruce Straughan (@bruce_straughan) January 11, 2025

Notre Dame hasn't been especially active in the transfer portal this year, with just five incoming transfers, including Dawson, according to 247Sports . The Fighting Irish have also added one four-star transfer commitment, wide receiver Malachi Fields (Virginia).

According to 247Sports, only three Notre Dame players have entered the portal, including EDGE Aiden Gobaira (uncommitted), DL Tyson Ford (Cal) and CB Jaden Mickey (Cal).

Dawson, a Collierville, Tennessee native, is a grad transfer with one year of eligibility remaining.

Two of Notre Dame's top defensive linemen, Howard Cross III and RJ Oben, are playing in their final game with the Fighting Irish during the College Football Playoff championship contest against No. 8 seed Ohio State. When Dawson enrolls in South Bend, he has a wide experience advantage over the remaining players at those positions.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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