Notre Dame Football

BREAKING | Notre Dame Lands Grad Transfer S Rod Heard II

By Matt Freeman

January 10, 2024

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Notre Dame needed to add depth to the safety position after some attrition in December and the Irish have filled the hole with Northwestern graduate transfer Rod Heard II.

Heard took official visits to Michigan and Notre Dame last week before deciding on the Fighting Irish.

The 5-foot-11, 190-pounder brings experience to South Bend as he played in 46 games for the Wildcats, but also production as he made 194 tackles, forced five fumbles and picked off two passes during his five-year career in Evanston.

Heard made 85 tackles and picked off one pass in 2023 and finished with the highest PFF grade on Northwestern’s defense at 81.9. The Michigan native made 12 tackles and recovered a fumble against Utah in the Las Vegas Bowl last month.

Per PFF, Heard has played 2,270 snaps on defense, including 1,598 over the last two seasons.

He’ll join All-American Xavier Watts, sophomore Adon Shuler, sophomore Ben Minich and sophomore Luke Talich as the only safeties with college football experience in Chris O’Leary’s room.

As a high school prospect, Heard chose Northwestern over Cincinnati, Indiana, Iowa State, Michigan, Purdue and Syracuse.

Heard also attended Harrison High School (Mich.), which is also the alma mater of former Notre Dame captain Khalid Kareem.

Portal Scouting Notes | S Rod Heard II