Notre Dame Punter Bryce McFerson Announces Plans to Enter NCAA Transfer Portal

Notre Dame punter Bryce McFerson will enter the NCAA Transfer Portal in a somewhat shocking decision as the junior was in line to start for the second consecutive year. 

“I would like to thank Coach Freeman, Coach Biagi and Coach Schmitt for the opportunity to play on the biggest stage in college football at an amazing institution like Notre Dame,” McFerson said in a statement. “I’ve grown so much in my last two years here and I am very grateful for the relationships I’ve made along the way. That being said, I am entering the transfer portal with three years of eligibility.” 

The 6-foot-2, 194-pounder averaged 45.1 yards per punt in 2023, including a season-long of 59 yards against NC State and Oregon State in the Sun Bowl. 

McFerson also dropped five punts inside the 20 with just two touchdowns while also hitting 13 punts of 50 yards or more. 

Special teams coordinator Marty Biagi had hoped to increase McFerson’s role in 2024 with giving him kickoff duties, which the North Carolina native was set to do as a true freshman before an injury derailed his season. 

”He definitely has the capability of kicking off but we want him to really specialize and show this spring he can be that punter and show consistency and really feel like he’s going to be able to perform when needed,” said Biagi. “We’ll see how the summer goes, once he shows that he’s consistent in the first role then maybe go to the secondary role for him.”

McFerson also spent time holding for field goals and extra points in 2023. 

Coming out of high school, 247 Sports and Chris Sailer ranked McFerson as the nation’s top punter. 

Graduate student Eric Goins did punt while playing for The Citadel and has been impressive this spring. He punted 43 times in 2013 for an average of 40.3 yards and in 2014, he averaged 34.0 yards on six punts. 

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