What On3's Steve Wiltfong said about Notre Dame football's capabilities in the transfer portal
On Saturday night, On3 vice president of transfer portal and recruiting Steve Wilftong joined On3 national host and producer Josh Newberg on the On3 Recruits YouTube channel to discuss Notre Dame football’s roster management capabilities.
According to Wiltfong, the Fighting Irish should have more resources to use this offseason in the transfer portal because it no longer needs to acquire a starting quarterback.
“The CJ Carr era is coming for the Irish, the young quarterback,” Wiltfong said. “So I don’t think Notre Dame has to go in the portal this year. They’ve spent a lot of money in the portal the last two years. Riley Leonard and Sam Hartman did not come to South Bend cheap.
“Those are some resources that could really help Notre Dame be pretty strong in this portal season. Not having to put that money into the quarterback position, but in some other positions as they go out and try and land an elite player or two to keep this thing rolling next year.”
On3’s NIL Valuation tool assigned a $1.2 million projected annual value (PAV) — which combines Roster Value + NIL — to Hartman. The Irish got the graduate transfer signal-caller out of Wake Forest in the 2023 offseason. In 2024, they landed Leonard out of Duke. On3’s PAV for Leonard is $1 million.
To reiterate, these are not the dollar amounts Notre Dame paid to acquire Hartman or Leonard. Rather, what On3 projects as their annual (PAV).
Top 10
- 1Hot
12-Team CFP bracket
The updated field is set
- 2
Miami AD shot at Alabama
Dan Radakovich has CFP issues
- 3
Bama over Miami
CFP Chair addresses controversy
- 4New
CFP Top 25 revealed
Controversy is here
- 5Breaking
Kobe Prentice
Alabama WR to transfer
Last offseason, the Irish signed seven other players out of the transfer portal: wide receivers Beaux Collins (Clemson), Jayden Harrison (Marshall) and Kris Mitchell (FIU), defensive lineman RJ Oben (Duke), nickel Jordan Clark (Arizona State), defensive back Rod Heard II (Arizona State) and kicker Mitch Jeter (South Carolina).
They also added running backs Max Hurleman (Colgate) and Jake Tafelski (Central Michigan) as preferred walk-ons.
Notre Dame is expected to be most active this year in the wide receiver and defensive line markets. There are eight and 14 scholarship players at each position, respectively, on the current roster who have eligibility next season. During Wednesday’s high school signing day, the Irish will sign three wide receivers and five defensive linemen.
Unless a player is a graduate student or a part of a program that has lost its head coach, they cannot officially enter their name into the transfer portal until Monday. However, prospects have started to announce their intentions. According to On3, over 275 players entered the transfer portal.
