Notre Dame expected to make multiple transfer portal additions at vital position

Originally posted on ChiCitySports | By Matthew Schmidt | Last updated Jan 2, 2026 8:09 PM ET

The Notre Dame Fighting Irish have already zeroed in on wide receiver Nick Marsh in the transfer portal, but bolstering the receiving corps is far from the only move Notre Dame needs to make in the coming weeks.

In spite of ending the 2025 college football season on a 10-game winning streak, Notre Dame has some very obvious holes on the roster, and perhaps the most glaring need of all is in the trenches.

More specifically, the Fighting Irish need help at defensive tackle and defensive end, and they are already making a push for now-former Penn State defensive tackle Xavier Gilliam. But is Gilliam the only player Notre Dame will try to add at the position? Or will the Fighting Irish attempt to double down?

Nick Shepkowski of On SI feels that Marcus Freeman and Co. will be very aggressive, particularly in trying to bag interior defenders.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish expected to add multiple defensive tackles in transfer portal

Jan 19, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Marcus Freeman during College Football Playoff National Championship press conference at The Westin Peachtree Plaza, Savannah Ballroom. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Shepkowski has identified defensive tackle as Notre Dame’s most prominent need this offseason, and he is anticipating that the Fighting Irish will pursue multiple players at the position in the coming days/weeks.

“This already shorthanded group took a massive hit when veteran captain Donovan Hinish announced his retirement earlier this offseason,” Shepkowski wrote. “Notre Dame was already behind where it needs to be at this position compared to some of the regularly elite defenses, and Hinish’s retirement only hurt that more. Expect the Irish to add at least two interior defensive linemen, if not three, during this portal opportunity.”

Of course, that’s easier said than done.

The Fighting Irish will be battling a host of top-tier teams for the best interior defensive linemen in this year’s portal, and they are already facing stiff competition for Gilliam, who is also slated to meet with Indiana and Texas A&M.

Gilliam is the third-ranked defensive tackle in the portal, via 247 Sports.

This article first appeared on ChiCitySports and was syndicated with permission.

More must-reads: