Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football program have been quiet since deciding to withdraw from being selected for a Bowl Game. With so many players leaving the program via the transfer portal, Freeman and his staff have secured one of the hottest players in the portal in five-star true freshman wide receiver Quincy Porter.
Notre Dame Signs Jaden Porter to Boost CJ Carr’s Heisman Hopes
Depending on what site you use to access future Heisman odds, Notre Dame quarterback CJ Carr is amongst the top of nearly every list with the best odds for the 2026 Heisman trophy. His chances just improved significantly with the addition of Porter, who has officially transferred to the Fighting Irish from the Ohio State Buckeyes.
The addition to Porter fills a huge hole that the Irish need to address in the portal. They needed a wideout to put on the edge that has the combination of size and hands to make tough catches on the outside and also be a factor in the red zone for Carr. At 6’4, 210 pounds, Porter arguably becomes one of the most physically intimidating wide receivers in South Bend. This signing represents exactly the type of move contenders make when it comes to the portal.
Notre Dame will welcome back Jordan Faison and Jaden Greathouse next season, but depth remains an issue moving forward. Greathouse was fantastic a couple of seasons ago, but hamstring/thigh injuries derailed his 2025 season. While depth will still be an issue with Porter added to the fold, he certainly helps improve their wideout situation.
As a true freshman this season, Porter didn’t get a lot of opportunities to showcase his five-star wideout abilities. Due to players like Carnell Tate and Jeremiah Smith, other wide receivers struggled to find their roles in the passing offense. After already not getting a lot of playing time, losing longtime wide receivers coach Brian Hartline to a head coaching gig likely didn’t help keep Porter in Columbus either.
With little statistical data to work with in his first year in Columbus, Porter had an incredible high school career, which led him to become a 5-star recruit. After being timid at the start of the transfer portal madness, the Irish quickly bring back hope to their fan base with the addition of Porter.
It’s also worth noting that they added former Colorado defensive back DJ McKinney and Alabama EDGE Keon Keeley, and Michigan defensive back Jayden Sanders today via the portal as well. Coach Freeman and his staff have added a high-level freshman, who has a proven high school career, but most importantly, hasn’t even scratched the surface of his potential.
