Former Notre Dame starting offensive lineman enters transfer portal following national title loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes

The 6-4, 305-pound offensive lineman took a nice step this past offseason, and did so well that he was able to win a starting spot over a couple of veterans. Pendleton’s benching in late October had a weird vibe around it, and we didn’t see much of him for the rest of the season outside of his role on the field goal team.

By the end of the season, Pendleton didn’t even appear on the depth chart. The Billy Schrauth return from injury may have been the move that forced Pendleton to the bench, but seeing him not get a chance while Rocco Spindler was dealing with a serious ankle injury was very telling. This was a move that was expected for several weeks.

Pendleton was originally a member of the 2023 recruiting class for Notre Dame. The North Carolina native was considered to be a four-star recruit on the 247Sports Composite ranking. He ended up choosing the Irish over offers from Michigan, Florida, Tennessee, Penn State, and Clemson among many others.

Although there were a lot of struggles for Pendleton throughout his 2024 season for Notre Dame, there just aren’t enough quality offensive linemen around the country. His portal market is expected to be pretty solid considering that fact. Pendleton brings size, physicality, and maturity to the table. That skill set will be valued, especially with three years of eligibility remaining.