More Roster Movement: Two Notre Dame DBs Enter Transfer Portal
On Saturday, Notre Dame saw three offensive players enter the transfer portal. In the last 24 hours, the Irish have seen a pair of former 4-star defensive backs reportedly enter the transfer portal as well. Last night it was CB Isaiah Rutherford. This afternoon safety Houston Griffith has reportedly joined him in seeking a transfer.
Rutherford was one of Notre Dame’s top signees in 2019 and one of the highest-rated corners to sign under Brian Kelly, but in two seasons, he wasn’t able to crack the rotation even with injuries and plenty of opportunities for playing time. In 2020, true freshman Clarence Lewis jumped over Rutherford and other upperclassmen to grab a starting role.
Even with potential playing time with potentially two starting corner roles up for grabs in 2021 (boundary and slot), Rutherford’s name was not routinely mentioned as someone to watch for.
There will be a lot of playing time up for grabs this spring if Nick McCloud decides to leave for the NFL instead of utilizing the free year of eligibility the NCAA granted all football players this fall. Converted wide receiver junior Cam Hart, rising sophomores Ramon Henderson and Caleb Offord, and incoming freshmen Phillip Riley, Ryan Barnes, and Chance Tucker will round out what could be a very young Irish secondary baring another graduate transfer similar to McCloud this year.
On the other hand, Houston Griffith seemed poised to finally break through to the starting lineup again in 2021, with Shaun Crawford moving on after completing his sixth season at Notre Dame. Griffith was a top-100 recruit and the highest-rated prospect in Notre Dame’s 2018 recruiting class.
As a true freshman in 2018, Griffith began the season as Notre Dame’s starting nickel back but bounced in and out of the lineup as he struggled to play a new position. Since then, he has been unable to reassert himself as a starter in the Irish secondary. It appeared as though that opportunity awaited him in 2021.
With Griffith entering the portal, that could clear the way for a three-way battle for a starting role opposite Kyle Hamilton for Isaiah Pryor, DJ Brown, and KJ Wallace. Notre Dame also signed three defensive backs who figure to compete at safety – JoJo Johnson, Khari Gee, and Justin Walters.
Frank Vitovitch has been Co-Owner and Editor in Chief of UHND.com since joining forces with Kyle Flavin in 1999. Since that time, he has written over 2,000 articles covering Notre Dame football, recruiting, and basketball. He also works with all staff and external writers on all articles published on UHND.com. Frank's love for Notre Dame football started at a young age watching Rocket Ismail give opposing coaches ulcers in the late 1980's. By day Frank works in marketing and holds a degree in Digital Media from Drexel University. Frank's work has been cited by online/print editions of NBC Sports, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated and has been quoted on air by ESPN's Collin Cowherd. He's conducted interviews with Notre Dame legends Rocket Ismail, Randy Kinder, Lee Becton, Reggie Brooks, Michael Stonebreaker, and Ned Bolcar among others over his 20+ years of covering Notre Dame football. He's also been published in the print edition of USA Today Sports Weekly and the USA Today College Football Preview multiple times. Other Published Works/Citations for Frank Three Reasons Notre Dame Will Beat Alabama - USA Today Notre Dame Suspends WR Kevin Stepherson, RB C.J. Holmes Indefinitely - Bleacher Report Notre Dame / Ohio State Fiesta Bowl Preview - Eleven Warriors Brace Yourself: The Fighting Irish are Relevant Again - Sports on Earth Interviews with the Enemy: A Q&A with Frank Vitovitch of UHND - Yahoo! Sports Five Good Minutes: Notre Dame Football Preview With UHND.com - BC Interruption Vicious Electronic Questioning with UHND - MGO Blog
Wow, I thought these two guys would do well at ND. Would love to here more about how they did not develop like they were expected. Maybe just a case of being over-rated. After all they were not beat out by stellar competition.
I agree, as I was expecting big things from them. Even Moreso from Houston Griffith!
DB development at ND doesn’t exist, Fitz.
And BK gets his new QB security blanket in Wisconsin grad transfer, Jack Coan. Looks like a lesser touted and less athletic version of PJ. Had some decent offers at least coming out of HS.
Maybe.
Or maybe they figure there’s a limit to the amount of bullshit they should put up with on a team that isn’t going to do for them what a real playoff contender would.
And that Brian Kelly’s ND supplies out more than that amount.
Please let us know how to help you through this difficult time.
You must be talking about paying them with money and cars and prostitutes like they do in the SEC. Notre Dame doesn’t do that.
Empty your medicine cabinet into your stomach, Rhonda.
Maybe just tired of the grind of having to go to class.