Transfer portal: Former Notre Dame defensive lineman Tyson Ford to enroll at California
Former Notre Dame defensive lineman Tyson Ford is the first former Fighting Irish player in this transfer portal cycle to choose a new home. He’s headed to team up with former Notre Dame wide receiver Tobias Merriweather and fellow defensive lineman Aidan Keanaaina at California.
Ford medically retired this summer, freeing him from his scholarship spot on the Notre Dame roster. He officially announced his decision to enter the transfer portal on Oct. 1.
The No. 98 player and No. 13 defensive lineman in the 2022 recruiting class out of Saint Louis John Burroughs School never played much in an Irish uniform.
He made his collegiate debut with one snap in Notre Dame’s blowout of Boston College in Notre Dame’s home finale in 2022 per Pro Football Focus.
As a redshirt freshman in 2023, Ford only made a pair of appearances. He played half a dozen snaps against Tennessee State on Sept. 2 in the only game Notre Dame has played against an FCS opponent in program history. He had an assisted tackle in a 56-3 win for the Irish. Ford also saw the field for five snaps against Wake Forest on Nov. 18 and two snaps against Stanford in the regular-season finale.
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Notre Dame defensive line coach Al Washington constantly answered offseason questions about Ford. One of the last things he said heading into the 2024 season was Ford just was not in line to get much playing time in the middle of the Irish defensive line with veterans Rylie Mills, Howard Cross III and Gabriel Rubio in the lineup.
Donovan Hinish was more due for a breakout season than Ford, too, and as it turns out, he’s had it this fall. Ford was just one of the odd men out, like Keanaaina. The irony, though, is that Ford and Keanaaina would have been in for a bump up the depth chart with Mills and Cross moving on from the program at the end of this season.
“But you just got to control what you can, and you have to continue to work your best and I credit Tyson for doing that,” Washington said in spring ball 2024. “And he’ll be out there flying around this spring. I have a very high opinion of Tyson. Great kid. I think for him this spring is a great opportunity to continue to work. We all know the game’s unpredictable and you just got to continue to put his foot in the ground.”
Former Notre Dame defensive lineman Aiden Gobaira and cornerback Jaden Mickey are the other two players who entered the portal this fall and still need to find a new destination.
