Fighting Irish Football: 3 Outstanding Transfers to Know

For his collegiate career, Mitchell has 100 catches for 1,663 yards and 11 touchdowns. Mitchell fills a void left by the departure of WR Chris Tyree, who transferred to Virginia.

QB Riley Leonard

Previous School: Duke Blue Devils

6’4”, 212 lbs.

Riley Leonard played in only seven games in 2023, suffering a lower leg injury in a loss to Notre Dame and missing six of the final eight games. Leonard passed for 1,100 yards and three touchdowns, while throwing three INTs. In addition, he rushed for 352 yards and four scores. In 2022, Leonard gained over 3.600 yards of total offense and 33 touchdowns, completing 64% of his passes.

Leonard will be the most experienced person in the quarterback room for new Offensive Coordinator Mike Denbrock (formerly of LSU) and could be penciled in as QB1, taking over for the departing Sam Hartman. If Leonard can stay healthy, the Notre Dame offense will be in good hands.

CB Rod Heard II

Previous School: Northwestern Wildcats

5’11”, 190 lbs.

By the time August rolls around, Rod Heard II will have his master’s degree in hand and quite possibly a starting role in the Notre Dame secondary. In 2023, Heard was very active, making 85 tackles, four tackles for loss, intercepting a pass, breaking up four passes, and forcing two fumbles. Heard posted seven games of seven tackles or more, including 13 vs Purdue and 12 vs Utah. 

For his career, Heard has 194 tackles to his credit in 46 games played. Heard will provide depth and more importantly experience to a secondary unit that loses three key contributors.

Going into spring practice, Notre Dame will be young in the running back room, with three of their top returning rushers playing as freshmen last season. Someone will have to separate themselves from the pack and command more reps. With that said, the Fighting Irish will have the talent on both sides of the ball to punch their ticket to the College Football Playoff.