Notre Dame Adds Kicker Amid Drama, Reworks Transfer Plan

Notre Dame’s transfer portal stayed unusually quiet through January, but the silence broke at the 11th hour. With just two days left before the current window closes, head coach Marcus Freeman secured his first incoming addition: former Purdue kicker Spencer Porath. On paper, it’s a routine roster move. In reality, the timing and position choice sparked plenty of debate among Irish fans.

The move led many to wonder if Freeman is indirectly moving on from fellow kicker Marcello Diomede, who was at the center of an on-field confrontation with Freeman earlier in the season. That dust-up happened during Notre Dame’s 25–10 win over Boston College, when special teams mistakes piled up and tensions boiled over. According to broadcast shots and fan reports, the head coach and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock were visibly frustrated during the sequence.

Notre Dame’s kicking woes that day were hard to ignore. The trouble began when Noah Burnette clanged an extra point off the upright. Later, freshman Erik Schmidt missed a very makeable field goal from inside 40 yards. In the third quarter, Diomede pushed an extra point wide, adding to the frustration. Even though Schmidt later converted, the Irish had already left five points on the field — a detail that loomed large in a game that was otherwise under control.

Freeman eventually turned to Schmidt full-time, naming him the starting kicker for the Navy matchup. That decision paid off immediately as Schmidt went 7-for-7 on PAT attempts in a 49–10 victory. It also effectively ended Diomede’s chances of reclaiming the job. With Porath now walking through the door, the writing on the wall looks even clearer.

And Porath is far from a throwaway pickup. The sophomore posted a strong 2024 season at Purdue, drilling 15 of 17 field goals (78.6%) and producing 107 total points, according to Purdue’s season statistics. For a Notre Dame squad that missed the expanded 12-team College Football Playoff by the slimmest of margins, adding reliability at a volatile position makes obvious sense.

Irish Pick Up Steam Late in the Portal

The kicker signing wasn’t the only move of the week. Freeman has started to rebuild aggressively after Notre Dame narrowly missed the playoff cut following a head-to-head loss to Miami.

• On defense, the Irish landed former Pitt tackle Francis Brewu and lined up a campus visit for Oregon DT Tionne Gray.
• On offense, quarterback CJ Carr gained potential playmakers with reported commitments from former Ohio State WR Quincy Porter and former Alabama edge Keon Keeley, both once five-star recruits. Porter logged five appearances for OSU with four catches for 59 yards, while Keeley played in 13 games for Alabama, recording 16 tackles and three sacks.
• Notre Dame also recently added defensive backs Jayden Sanders (from Michigan) and D.J. McKinney, contributing to a late but meaningful roster surge.

Freeman’s offseason started slow, but the past couple of days reshaped the narrative. If these moves translate to performance, Notre Dame could enter 2026 with a steadier kicking game, improved depth, and a postseason ceiling that feels much higher.

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