Former Notre Dame top recruit Tyson Ford has entered the college football transfer portal after an underwhelming start to his collegiate career. Since Marcus Freeman took over as head coach in 2021, Notre Dame has been known for its strong defense, but after five games into the 2024 season, Freeman will lose one of his top defensive recruits. Ford, who played in 18 games without significant impact, announced his decision to transfer via Instagram, stating he still has three years of eligibility left.
The 6-foot-5, 245-pound defensive end, a highly rated four-star recruit from Saint Louis, appeared in just one game during his freshman season in 2023, recording a single tackle. Ford essentially opted out of the 2024 season and wasn’t listed on the team’s roster, having stepped away for personal reasons during spring training, according to the South Bend Tribune. He and teammate Aiden Gobaira were designated as medical non-counters by the end of the summer.
Though Ford hasn’t revealed which school he’s considering next, he confirmed that he plans to graduate from Notre Dame in May and enroll as a graduate student at his next destination. Ford was ranked as the second-best recruit in Missouri, behind only Buffalo Bills wide receiver Keon Coleman.
Tyson Ford
Despite the challenges with Ford, Notre Dame has had a solid season, holding a 4-1 record, including a signature Week 5 win over Louisville and a Week 1 victory over Texas A&M. The team rebounded from an upset loss to Northern Illinois in Week 2, outscoring their next three opponents by a combined 125-34. The Irish enter Week 6 ranked No. 14 in the AP poll, the same ranking they started the season with. They will face Stanford next, after their bye week, and won’t meet another ranked opponent until the season finale against rival USC.
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