Notre Dame did a remarkable job keeping everyone on the boat during the run to the national title game without a single member of the 2024 Fighting Irish entering the portal. It was inevitable that once their season ended, that would change. On Wednesday, a trio of Notre Dame reserves started the movement by entering the portal: wide receivers Jayden Thomas and Deion Colzie and offensive lineman Sam Pendleton.
Sam Pendleton started the season in the starting lineup when the Irish went into Kyle Field and knocked off Texas A&M to start the season. He stayed there until the seventh game of the season when he was replaced by Rocco Spindler whom he beat in camp for the job.