Transfer Portal: Louisville DL Jared Dawson commits to Notre Dame
After five seasons playing for the Louisville Cardinals, nose tackle Jared Dawson is headed to Notre Dame for his final college football season.
The 6-2, 305-pounder entered the NCAA Transfer Portal Dec. 14, and Notre Dame quietly recruited him to South Bend. The sixth-year senior will immediately help a Fighting Irish interior defensive line that loses key players Rylie Mills and Howard Cross III.
Dawson is On3’s No. 25 defensive lineman in the Transfer Portal rankings.
He was a three-star recruit in the 2020 class and played six games in his first two years with the Cardinals. In 2022, he played in all 12 games for Louisville as a reserve defensive tackle, posting 16 tackles, 3 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble and 2.5 sacks on the year.
In 2023, his role was similar as a depth player and had 12 tackles, 3 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks in 10 games.
This past season, Dawson suited up in 10 games and had 19 stops, 6.5 tackles for loss, 4 sacks and 1 forced fumble.
The Collierville, Tenn. product can play a sixth year by taking advantage of a redshirt and the 2020 season not counting towards eligibility due to COVID-19.
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Dawson is Notre Dame’s fifth transfer portal commitment, joining defensive back Devonta Smith (Alabama), wide receivers Will Pauling (Wisconsin) and Malachi Fields (Virginia) and tight end Ty Washington (Arkansas).
He will be a key part of a Notre Dame interior defensive line featuring Gabriel Rubio and Donovan Hinish in 2025.
The other scholarship defensive linemen with eligibility for Notre Dame next season are Sean Sevillano, Joseph Reiff, Davion Dixon, Gordy Sulfsted, Cole Mullins, Brenan Vernon, Devan Houstan and Armel Mukam. With such inexperience, it’s obvious that Notre Dame went to the portal to add another body to help immediately. And the Irish may not be done recruiting interior defensive linemen out of the portal either.
Dawson is expected to enroll at Notre Dame on Monday and participate in spring practices in South Bend.
