Transfer out: How the 12 players that left Notre Dame before the season performed on new teams

The upcoming transfer portal is already active five days before it officially opens. During the last transfer cycle, the Notre Dame football program saw 12 players leave for new opportunities.

Only nine of those 12 former players were able to play this season. Two have been out with injuries. Still, with the ones that have played, most have had underwhelming contributions to their new teams.

Here is the complete breakdown of how the 12 players who previously transferred from Notre Dame performed during the 2023 regular season.

Defensive back Jayden Bellamy

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

Oradell (N.J.) Bergen Catholic’s Jayden Bellamy bailed on Notre Dame after one year in South Bend with a redshirt in hand to play closer to home at Syracuse. And his plan had some success. The 5-foot-11, 180-pounder played in 10 games and started in the final six outings at cornerback.

Bellamy tallied 26 tackles (20 solo), had a pass breakup and an interception in his first season with the Orange. He was also one of two players on the team to recover at least two fumbles. 

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 did not play this season after a suspected preseason injury.

Quarterback Tyler Buchner

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

After two seasons with the Fighting Irish, Sam Hartman’s Blue-Gold Game performance pushed Tyler Buchner out of South Bend. In late April, he quickly followed former Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees to Alabama.

Buchner battled Alabama quarterbacks Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson for the starting quarterback spot in preseason camp. Milroe won it, but Buchner had the chance to take over the reins early in the season. 

The 6-1, 215-pound Buchner started Week 3 against South Florida but had an abysmal outing. He completed 5-14 (35.7%) passes for 34 yards while rushing twice for 11 yards on Sept. 16. Alabama benched him after five series in that game. He had not played in a game since besides mysteriously participating last week against Auburn.

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 Tide debut. 

Running back Logan Diggs

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

Logan Diggs ditched Notre Dame after two seasons to return to his home state of Louisiana. The 6-1, 215-pounder from Metairie (La.) Archbishop Rummel had a hot start to his tenure with the Tigers.

After not playing Week 1 against Florida State, Diggs entered the lineup and rushed for 635 yards and 6 touchdowns on 113 carries over the next 8 games. He missed the next 2 games with an upper-body injury, only to return for a 17-yard performance that included a touchdown last Saturday against Texas A&M. 

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 sparingly for the hometown Charlotte 49ers. In 12 games, Ekwonu has seen 41 defensive snaps and recorded 4 tackles and a quarterback hurry.

Offensive lineman Caleb Johnson

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

Caleb Johnson has participated in six games in mop-up duty for Southern Methodist this season. The 6-6, 303-pounder has only surrendered two pressures in 24 pass block snaps. 

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 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 Oct. 24, 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 September.  

Defensive lineman Jacob Lacey

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

Jacob Lacey’s Oklahoma career began with 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 12 games. He’s recorded 16 tackles (10 solo), 1.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack.

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 seven games this season but has not recorded any statistics. He missed three games mid-season with an elbow injury.

Liebentritt’s primary role has been playing fullback, where he recorded 32 snaps. 

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)

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 five 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 picking Miami, he carved out a role with the Redhawks, hauling in 25 passes for 343 yards. Both of those marks are third on the team. He also has a touchdown. 

On Saturday, Miami faces Toledo in the MAC Championship at Ford Field in Detroit.