Transfer out: How the 11 players that left Notre Dame in the offseason have performed in 2023

In his weekly Monday news conference, Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman discussed the importance of conversing with players who are considering entering the transfer portal. It sparked the thought of how former Fighting Irish football players who transferred this offseason are performing with their new teams.

Notre Dame lost 11 players to the transfer portal from Nov. 7, 2022, to April 30. Here is a breakdown of how each has fared since they left South Bend. 

Defensive back Jayden Bellamy

Seasons at Notre Dame: 1
Transfer date: Dec. 5, 2022
Commitment: Dec. 16, 2022 (Syracuse)

Following a freshman redshirt season at Notre Dame, Jayden Bellamy returned closer to home to play for Syracuse. The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder from Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic has played in all seven games and registered 21 tackles (18 solo) and broken up a pass. He is one of five players to recover a fumble for the Orange this season. 

Tight end Cane Berrong

Seasons at Notre Dame: 2
Transfer date: Dec. 12, 2022
Commitment: Jan. 20 (Coastal Carolina)

The 6-4, 230-pound Cane Berrong has only appeared in one game since transferring to Coastal Carolina. He did not record any statistics in that Sept. 9 outing against Jacksonville State. 

Quarterback Tyler Buchner

Seasons at Notre Dame: 2
Transfer date: April 25
Commitment: April 27 (Alabama)

After the Blue-Gold Game, Notre Dame transfer Sam Hartman looked like the frontrunner to win the starting quarterback competition. Five days later, Buchner followed former Irish offensive coordinator Tommy Rees to Tuscaloosa, Ala. 

In Tide preseason camp, Buchner battled Alabama quarterbacks Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson for the starting quarterback spot. Milroe won it, only for Rees to turn to Buchner by Week 3. The 6-1, 215-pound Buchner completed 5-14 (35.7%) for 34 yards while rushing twice for 11 yards against South Florida on Sept. 16. Alabama benched him after five series. He has not played in a game since.

Besides the Week 3 USF game, Buchner saw time in a 56-7 victory over Middle Tennessee in Week 1. He completed 3-5 passes for 27 yards and had a 9-yard rushing score in his Bama debut. 

Running back Logan Diggs

Seasons at Notre Dame: 2
Transfer date: April 27
Commitment: May 16 (LSU)

Following spring practice, Logan Diggs entered the portal to ultimately return to his home state of Louisiana. The 6-1, 215-pounder from Metairie (La.) Archbishop Rummel played in seven of eight games for LSU. He’s racked up 611 yards and 6 touchdowns on 105 carries. All of those metrics lead the team. 

Diggs is also 29th in the country and 3rd in the SEC in rushing yards per game (87.3). His 6 touchdowns rank No. 37 nationally and No. 4 in the conference. 

Linebacker Ositadinma Ekwonu

Seasons at Notre Dame: 4
Transfer date: Dec. 5, 2022
Commitment: Dec. 21, 2022 (Charlotte)

Ositadinma Ekwonu spent four seasons at Notre Dame and played 15 games before transferring to his hometown school. Since then, the 6-2, 235-pound Ekwonu has played in 7 games and recorded two tackles. He most recently had a quarterback hurry in a 10-7 win over East Carolina on Oct. 21. 

Offensive lineman Caleb Johnson

Seasons at Notre Dame: 2 
Transfer date: April 19
Commitment: May 13 (Southern Methodist)

Caleb Johnson has participated in four games for Southern Methodist this season. His best showing came in a Week 3 69-0 victory over Prairie View A&M. He played 21 snaps and finished with a perfect Pass Blocking Efficiency score. “EFF’ is a PFF Signature stat measuring pressure allowed on a per-snap basis with weighting toward sacks allowed.

Linebacker Prince Kollie

Seasons at Notre Dame: 2 
Transfer date: April 24
Commitment: May 22 (Vanderbilt)

Prince Kollie returned to his home state of Tennessee to attend Vanderbilt, located in Nashville. The 6-1, 221-pounder from Jonesborough (Tenn.) David Crockett High has not played in a game this season due to injury. 

On Tuesday, The Tennessean reported Kollie has had a “few setbacks.” The Tennessean also reported that Kollie missed most of the preseason and did not begin practicing until last month.  

Defensive lineman Jacob Lacey

Seasons at Notre Dame: 4
Transfer date: Oct. 6, 2022
Commitment: Nov. 24, 2022 (Oklahoma)

Jacob Lacey had a health scare in the spring after being diagnosed with pulmonary embolisms, nearly ending his football career. The 6-1, 282-pounder has since prevailed to play in all seven Sooners games. He’s charted 11 tackles (4 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack on the season. 

Tight end Barret Liebentritt

Seasons at Notre Dame: 2
Transfer date: April 30
Commitment: May 13 (Nebraska)

Barret Liebentritt returned to his home state school to play for the Cornhuskers.  The 6–foot, 235-pounder from Omaha (Neb.) Skutt Catholic has played in four games this season but has not recorded any statistics. He missed two games due to injury.

Quarterback Drew Pyne

Seasons at Notre Dame: 3
Transfer date: Dec. 2, 2022
Commitment: Dec. 19, 2022 (Arizona State)

Instead of battling Buchner and a transfer quarterback — who turned out to be Hartman — for the starting spot in the spring, Drew Pyne followed former Oregon offensive coordinator Kenny Dillingham to Arizona State. Dillingham is now the Sun Devils’ head coach.

Pyne’s ASU career had a tough start. He suffered a preseason hamstring injury that prevented him from playing until Week 3. He returned to the lineup against Fresno State and played three quarters. Pyne completed 5-13 passes for 52 yards; two of his seven incompletions resulted in interceptions. He also was sacked three times and sustained a leg injury during the game. 

Dillingham then selected Pyne to start the next week against Southern California. The 6-foot, 190-pound signal caller connected on 21-36 (58.3%) of throws for 221 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. ASU lost to USC 42-28. He has not played since that game. 

Cornerback Lorenzo Styles

Seasons at Notre Dame: 2
Transfer date: April 21
Commitment: April 29 (Ohio State)

Buckeye legacy Lorenzo Styles made a late-spring switch from wide receiver to cornerback … only to transfer to Ohio State to team up with his brother Sonny Styles. The elder Styles has played in four games and only taken one snap (free safety) on defense. He has not recorded any stats.

Wide receiver Joe Wilkins Jr. 

Seasons at Notre Dame: 5
Transfer date: Nov. 7, 2022
Commitment: Dec. 9, 2022 (Miami of Ohio)

Midway through his fifth Notre Dame season, Joe Wilkins entered the transfer portal. After transferring to Miami he carved out a role with the Redhawks, hauling in 23 passes for 325 yards. Both of those marks are second on the team. He also has a touchdown.