Notre Dame transfer DB Jaden Mickey commits to California

Notre Dame transfer cornerback Jaden Mickey is taking his talents out West, committing to join the California Golden Bears via the NCAA Transfer Portal, On3 has learned.

Mickey redshirts in the midst of his junior year for the Fighting Irish, appearing in 28 games in his career with Notre Dame, including the first four games of the 2024 season. He made three starts between his freshman and sophomore seasons in South Bend, and ended his time with Notre Dame having accumulated 23 tackles, four defended passes, and an interception he returned for a 43-yard touchdown.

As a member of the Class of 2022, Mickey was a four-star recruit out of Corona (Calif.) Centennial, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He was the No. 11 overall prospect in the state, the No. 22 cornerback in the class and the No. 185 overall prospect in the class.

Moving forward, Mickey hopes to become a nice piece of the puzzle for the Golden Bears. California fared relatively well during their first season in the ACC, and the addition of Mickey will only help their cause in 2025.

To keep up with the latest players on the move, check out On3’s Transfer Portal wire.

The On3 Transfer Portal Instagram account and Twitter account are excellent resources to stay up to date with the latest moves.

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Moreover, Mickey isn’t the first former Notre Dame commit to join California, as defensive lineman Tyson Ford committed to the Golden Bears earlier in the week, he announced via social media. He announced his intention to enter the transfer portal in October after being placed on medical scholarship.

Ford appeared in two games as a redshirt freshman in 2023, and he will have three years of eligibility remaining. Notre Dame placed him on medical scholarship before the 2024 season, and he then said he planned to enter the portal when the window opened.

Ford played high school football at St. Louis (Mo.) John Burroughs School, where he was a four-star prospect. He was the No. 98 overall player from the 2022 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.

Ford went through spring ball at Notre Dame this year before the Irish placed him on medical scholarship. That, effectively, ended his time in South Bend – and in October, he said he intended to transfer.

On3’s Nick Schultz contributed to this article.