Coach | Notre Dame Portal QB Target Braden Atkinson Can Play At P4 Level
Braden Atkinson’s rise from an overlooked high school quarterback to a Notre Dame transfer portal target has been shaped more by long consistency than recent momentum, according to those who have watched his development closest.
Rolesville High School head coach Ranier Rackley has known Atkinson since childhood and said the former Mercer quarterback’s trajectory has always been deliberate. From his early years through his transition to college football, Rackley believes Atkinson’s growth has been driven by understanding, discipline and an ability to process the game at a high level.
That foundation is a large part of why Rackley believes Atkinson can function in an environment like Notre Dame, where responsibility at the quarterback position extends beyond arm talent.
“He’s very cerebral,” Rackley said. “If you give him the keys to make checks or audibles, the coach won’t be mad at that because he’s so smart.”
Atkinson took a visit to South Bend already this week and will reportedly take more.
Atkinson put together one of the most productive freshman seasons in the FCS during his lone year at Mercer in 2025. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound quarterback completed 268 of 407 passes for 3,611 yards and 34 touchdowns, leading the Bears to a 9-3 record. His performance earned him the Jerry Rice Award as the nation’s top FCS freshman.
In addition to Notre Dame, he’s drawn interest from schools like Syracuse, Boston College, Baylor, Toledo and Tulane among others.
Atkinson’s intelligence shows up most clearly in how he handles structure within an offense while also putting his increasingly impressive physical abilities on display, according to Rackley.
“In high school, he was making college throws,” Rackley said. “Now that he’s in college, he’s making NFL throws.”
Those traits allow Atkinson to execute a full playbook rather than being limited by a specific scheme. He described Atkinson as a quarterback who throws with anticipation and precision.
Beyond the on-field evaluation, Rackley emphasized Atkinson’s potential fit with Notre Dame is rooted in alignment between the program’s values and the quarterback’s approach to football and life.
Rackley has interacted with Notre Dame’s staff for multiple recruiting cycles and sees parallels between how the Irish operate and the culture he has built at Rolesville.
“That’s why he’s a Notre Dame person,” Rackley said. “It’s not just athletic ability.”
That connection helped open communication once Atkinson entered the portal. Rackley reached out to Notre Dame’s staff shortly after learning of Atkinson’s plans and interest quickly followed.
“They told me they loved Braden and wanted to get him on campus,” Rackley said.
Atkinson understands that the portal process moves quickly, particularly at quarterback, and that opportunities can disappear just as fast as they appear. That urgency, however, has not altered Atkinson’s focus on fit and long-term development.
From Rackley’s perspective, Atkinson’s potential value at Notre Dame goes beyond potentially serving as CJ Carr’s backup in 2026 since he has multiple years of eligibility remaining having only played one year of college ball to date.
“Even if he doesn’t get a full opportunity right away, he’s still got years to develop and grow in that system,” Rackley said.
For a quarterback whose rise has been built on patience and preparation, Rackley believes the opportunity in South Bend aligns naturally with how Atkinson has always approached the game.
Want the latest scoop on the Fighting Irish? Sign up for our newsletter and become an ISD Premium Subscriber: Sign Up for ISD
Under Armour Navy Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2024 Shamrock Series Rival Fleece Pullover Hoodie
