Former Notre Dame OL walk-on Quinn Murphy transfers to Western Michigan
It’s been almost three months since Quinn Murphy entered the transfer portal as a graduate on Feb. 8, but the former Notre Dame offensive line walk-on announced his next destination Monday night. He’s headed to Western Michigan.
The Broncos are coached by former Notre Dame running backs coach Lance Taylor. Former Irish graduate assistant Trevor Mendelson is the offensive line coach.
Murphy spent five full seasons with Notre Dame. He did not see the field in 2019. He made his Fighting Irish debut in a 52-0 victory over South Florida in 2020 before not appearing in any games again in 2021. He played in one game in 2022 as a field goal unit member against North Carolina.
Last year, Murphy saw the field quite a bit. He appeared in six games against Tennessee State, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Wake Forest, Stanford and in the Sun Bowl against Oregon State. Per Pro Football Focus, Murphy logged 10 offensive snaps in his final season at Notre Dame and 27 on special teams.
Until the most recent Blue-Gold Game on April 20, Murphy had always been a spring game staple for Notre Dame. The Irish split the offensive line across both teams, so depth is at a premium in the annual scrimmage. Murphy had good moments playing in front of thousands of people in-person at Notre Dame Stadium and in front of more watching from home.
More Notre Dame in the transfer portal
It’s been a quiet transfer portal cycle for the Fighting Irish from a scholarship standpoint. The only Irish players on scholarship to enter the portal in the last month have been graduate senior corner Clarence Lewis on March 29, junior punter Bryce McFerson on April 16 and sophomore corner Micah Bell on April 23.
Lewis committed to Syracuse on April 16. McFerson and Bell have yet to announce their next destinations.
Notre Dame currently sits at 87 scholarship players. The Irish need to be down to 85 by the start of fall camp. That explains why they have not taken in any transfers in the current portal window, which closes today. If nobody leaves, nobody can comfortably come in with the number 85 in mind.
Still, the Irish were active in the winter window. They brought in eight scholarship transfers, which is a program record for one offseason. Those players are Duke quarterback Riley Leonard, Duke defensive end RJ Oben, Arizona State corner Jordan Clark, Northwestern defensive back Rod Heard II, Florida International wide receiver Kris Mitchell, Marshall wide receiver Jayden Harrison, Clemson wide receiver Beaux Collins and South Carolina kicker Mitch Jeter.
