Notre Dame OL Rocco Spindler enters NCAA transfer portal

Notre Dame offensive lineman Rocco Spindler has entered the NCAA transfer portal, just days after the team’s loss in the national championship game, On3 has learned.

Spindler played extensively for the Fighting Irish this fall, starting 13 of the team’s 16 games on the year.

He’ll therefore offer someone quite a bit of experience via the NCAA transfer portal, which can sometimes be difficult to come by at the offensive line position. He’s not the first Notre Dame player to enter following the title game loss, and he likely won’t be the last.

Rocco Spindler has been a strong contributor for the last two years, too.

After appearing in 14 games total with no starts in his first two seasons, Spindler began to get his footing with the program. He started 10 games in 2023, starting in every game that he appeared in. Then he started 13 this fall.

Prior to enrolling at Notre Dame, Rocco Spindler was ranked as a four-star prospect and the No. 65 overall recruit in the nation in the 2021 recruiting class. He also checked in as the No. 4 interior offensive lineman in the class and the No. 3 overall player from the state of Michigan, hailing from Clarkston (MI) Clarkston.

Notre Dame also loses Jayden Thomas

As noted above, Rocco Spindler isn’t the only player to hit the transfer portal wire from Notre Dame. Receiver Jayden Thomas also entered the NCAA transfer portal.

Thomas is transferring after playing in all 16 games this season. He finished the year with 18 catches for 167 yards and two touchdowns. He added three carries for 27 yards on the ground, while helping Notre Dame advance to the national championship game.

He spent four seasons with the Fighting Irish. He signed with Notre Dame as a three-star recruit and the No. 63 receiver in the country in the class of 2021, per the On3 Industry Rankings.

On3’s Matt Connolly also contributed to this report.