Notre Dame DL NaNa Osafo-Mensah Enters the Transfer Portal
On Monday, Notre Dame fifth-year defensive lineman NaNa Osafo-Mensah announced that he intends to enter the NCAA transfer portal.
“After earning two degrees from the University of Notre Dame, I will be entering the transfer portal looking to find a new home for my last year of eligibility,” he posted on X (formerly known as Twitter). “I will always have LOVE for the Irish, and I am excited for my next opportunity.
He started the season opener against Navy at defensive end but played in a reserve role behind strongside defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste for the rest of the regular season.
Osafo-Mensah finished with 20 tackles, 5.5 TFLs and 3.0 sacks over 12 games and 252 snaps this fall.
In five seasons, he totaled 47 tackles, 9.0 TFLs, 5.0 sacks and a forced fumble.
“To Notre Dame: I can’t thank you enough for guiding me and molding me into the person I am now,” Osafo-Mensah wrote. “The appreciation and love I have for the coaching staff, support staff and all of my teammates will never fade, as I will always embrace being a part of the Irish Family.
“It has been an absolute honor to represent this team throughout my time here in the Blue and Gold.”
With Jean-Baptiste out of eligibility, Osafo-Mensah’s departure leaves a hole at strongside defensive end. Will Joshua Burnham add more weight and move to the position full-time? He played 162 snaps this fall for 16 tackles, 2.5 TFLs and a sack.
Other potential options include sophomore Tyson Ford (13 snaps) and Boubacar Traore (17). Of course, the Irish could also look to the portal once again to help fill this role.
Osafo-Mensah was the first Fighting Irish player to announce their intentions to transfer following the team’s 56-23 victory over Stanford in the regular-season finale on Saturday.
Since then, two offensive players in wideout Chris Tyree and center Zeke Correll have joined Osafo-Mensah in the portal.
More are likely to follow before the transfer portal officially opens on Dec. 4. Coach Marcus Freeman mentioned on Monday that such discussion will take place this week.
“Part of the discussions I had with the coaching staff this morning was we do have to have those conversations with the guys in our room about bowl game, about their future here, if they plan on coming back,” Freeman said. “Do they plan on transferring, do they plan on leaving? That's a part of college football and we have to have those conversations.
“We have not yet in terms of who will and who won't play the bowl game.”
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