Attrition affects college football and NFL teams alike after the postseason, with both rosters and coaching staffs feeling the impact. Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish have experienced this reality firsthand this week, following their loss to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game. This defeat raises expectations that Notre Dame will lose defensive coordinator Al Golden to the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals, and roster attrition is beginning to impact the program as well.
On Wednesday, two wide receivers, Deion Colzie and Jayden Thomas, entered the NCAA transfer portal, as reported by On3. Colzie had limited playing time this past season, while Thomas departs after four seasons in South Bend, leaving behind 64 career receptions for 838 yards and seven receiving touchdowns. With their departure, Freeman and his staff will need to find replacements this offseason through recruiting or the transfer portal.
Despite these losses, Notre Dame’s wide receiver room will retain Jaden Greathouse and Jordan Faison for the next season, but they will need to seek additional depth. Four-star prospect Elijah Burress from DePaul Catholic in New Jersey stands as the team’s highest-rated receiver recruit for the Class of 2025 and may step into a significant role.
Overall, this situation is not unusual for Notre Dame or any college football program today. The transfer portal has facilitated a level of movement that has become commonplace since its inception, and while the Irish faced a setback in the title game, they are anticipated to achieve great things again in 2025.
