Notre Dame Transfer Malachi Fields Named A Top Wide Receiver Portal Pickup For 2025

With the chaos of the spring transfer portal window coming to a close, we're able to step back and look at some of the key portal additions of the major programs throughout college football. Over the last couple of seasons, Notre Dame has picked up several impact players in the portal, guys like Riley Leonard in 2024 and Javonte Jean-Baptiste in 2023. This upcoming season, the Irish have another rising star in the mix that can help this offense consistently play at a championship level. 

"Though Jaden Greathouse emerged as a solid option amid its College Football Playoff run last season, he was the only Fighting Irish player to end the year with at least 500 yards receiving. Malachi Fields provides an immediate upgrade. The 6-foot-4 Virginia transfer had 55 catches for 808 yards -- an average of 14.7 yards per catch -- and five touchdowns. All of those numbers would have led the Irish a year ago." - Will Backus, CBS Sports

It's been quite some time since there's been a dynamic one-two punch at receiver for Notre Dame. In 2018 you had Miles Boykin and Chase Claypool, in 2009 you had Golden Tate and Michael Floyd and 2005 had Jeff Samardzija and Maurice Stovall. Fields and Greathouse have the opportunity to be the next pair added to this list. 

Fields brings tremendous size at 6-4 220 pounds to the boundary position, something that has been lacking in South Bend since Claypool's departure after the 2019 season. In two seasons with the Cavaliers, Fields tallied over 100 receptions, over 1600 yards receiving and 10 touchdowns. He also averages over 14.0 yards per catch. 

CBS Sports has him ranked as a top receiver primed to make an immediate impact this season. Fields has flown relatively under the radar by some outlets with big names like Trebor Pena, Eric Singleton, Zachariah Branch and KC Concepcion also entering the portal. Fields was ranked the No. 11 best receiver in the portal by 247sports, but his production proves why he should be significantly higher on the list. 

Notre Dame has done an outstanding job over the last couple of seasons supplementing their roster through the transfer portal, adding players that can contribute specifically to the offense or defense; they are not just big game hunting. Luckily, a player like Fields has the big name, the proven experience and is the right fit in this offense.