Marcus Freeman and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish are learning the difficult balance between success and loss. After their defeat to the Ohio State Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff National Championship Game, the program is facing a shakeup not only in the coaching staff but also in player roster as attrition takes its toll.
On Wednesday, wide receivers Deion Colzie and Jayden Thomas entered the NCAA transfer portal, as reported by On3. This leaves Freeman and his coaching staff searching for replacements, whether through traditional recruiting or the transfer portal. Colzie had limited playing time this past season, whereas Thomas leaves Notre Dame after four seasons, finishing with 64 receptions, 838 yards, and seven receiving touchdowns.
While the wide receiver room is expected to have Jaden Greathouse and Jordan Faison returning next year, additional depth will be necessary. Four-star recruit Elijah Burress from DePaul Catholic in New Jersey is the highest-rated receiver in the Class of 2025 and may soon see action on the field.
This situation isn’t unique to Notre Dame; it’s a trend seen across college football today. The Fighting Irish recently lost defensive coordinator Al Golden to the NFL’s Cincinnati Bengals this week, and the transfer portal has seen unprecedented activity since its inception, promoting greater movement among players. Freeman has previously navigated the portal successfully, securing quarterback Riley Leonard, and may look to do so again.
Despite their recent title game loss, there are high expectations for Notre Dame in 2025.
