The narrative around South Bend hasn't changed much in a decade. We always hear about the "potential" of the pass-catchers. We talk about the tight ends being the real focal point. But honestly, if you’ve watched Notre Dame football wide receivers over the last few cycles, you know the frustration. It’s been a revolving door of "almost" stars and transfer portal bandaids.
Things feel different right now. Really.
With the 2025 season in the rearview and 2026 winter workouts looming, Marcus Freeman and Mike Brown have actually started to fix the "X" receiver problem that has haunted this program since Miles Boykin left. They aren't just looking for bodies; they are hunting for specific archetypes.
The Quincy Porter Effect and the Boundary Fix
Most people get the "Boundary" vs. "Field" receiver distinction wrong. They think it's just about who stands where. It’s actually about who can win a 50/50 ball when the quarterback is under duress and the window is the size of a mailbox.
Landing Quincy Porter from the transfer portal this week—formerly a five-star recruit at Ohio State—is basically the loudest statement Marcus Freeman has made about his offensive philosophy. Porter is 6-foot-4. He’s 210 pounds. He didn't get the targets in Columbus because, well, Ohio State is a wide receiver factory and he was stuck behind Jeremiah Smith.
But at Notre Dame? He’s the projected Day 1 starter at the boundary.
The Irish lost Malachi Fields (the Virginia transfer who led the team in 2025 with 630 yards) and Will Pauling to graduation and the draft. Fields was a massive safety net. Replacing him with a guy like Porter, who has three years of eligibility left, gives CJ Carr a weapon that can grow with him. It’s not just a one-year rental. It's a foundation.
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Why Jaden Greathouse and Jordan Faison are the Real Core
While everyone is obsessed with the portal, the guys who actually stayed are the ones who will determine if this offense is top-10 or just "fine."
Jaden Greathouse is the name to watch. He finished 2025 with 42 catches for 592 yards. He was huge in the National Championship game, putting up 128 yards on 6 catches. He’s consistent. He’s a pro. Honestly, he’s probably the most underrated receiver in the Independent ranks because he doesn't have the "track star" speed that gets people excited on Twitter.
Then there's Jordan Faison.
You've gotta love the Faison story. The dual-sport lacrosse star who basically walked onto the football team and started torching Power 5 secondaries. He’s the twitch. He’s the guy you put in the slot to make a nickel corner look silly. In 2026, he’s going to be a junior, and the chemistry he’s developed with CJ Carr during spring ball is reportedly "off the charts."
The Mike Brown Transformation
Let’s talk about the coaching. Mike Brown came over from Wisconsin (via Cincinnati) with a reputation for being a "player's coach."
But fans were skeptical.
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The 2024 season was rocky. The WR room struggled with separation. However, look at the development of guys like Beaux Collins last year or the way Greathouse blossomed late in the season. Brown is landing elite recruits now. The 2026 class is being called the best wide receiver haul in a decade for a reason. He’s proving that Notre Dame can actually sell a modern passing game to high-schoolers who used to only look at LSU or Ohio State.
It’s not perfect. It never is.
We saw the Irish miss out on Nick Marsh (who went to Indiana, of all places) early in this portal window. That stung. It showed that despite the NIL gains, Notre Dame still has to fight through the academic and cultural "fit" requirements that other schools just ignore.
What Most People Get Wrong About the 2026 Roster
The biggest misconception? That the Irish are still a "Run First, Pass Maybe" team.
With Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price heading to the NFL, the 2026 offense is going to look radically different. Love was a freak—1,372 rushing yards is no joke—but his departure forces Mike Denbrock to lean into the passing game.
The Projected 2026 Depth Chart (The "Look")
- Boundary (X): Quincy Porter (So.) / Cam Williams (Jr.)
- Slot (Z): Jordan Faison (Jr.) / KK Smith (RS So.)
- Field (Y): Jaden Greathouse (Jr.) / Micah Gilbert (So.)
This is a young group. It's almost entirely made up of sophomores and juniors. That’s scary for a coach who needs to win now, but for a fan, it’s the first time the room has felt "reloaded" rather than "rebuilt."
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The CJ Carr Factor
None of this matters if the guy throwing the ball can't find them.
CJ Carr is the undisputed QB1. He’s got the pedigree. He’s got the arm. Most importantly, he’s got a group of receivers who have different "kill shots."
- Porter wins the high-point balls in the red zone.
- Faison creates five yards of space on a three-yard slant.
- Greathouse catches everything in the intermediate 15-20 yard range.
It’s a balanced ecosystem.
Actionable Insights for the 2026 Season
If you are tracking this unit heading into the Blue-Gold game, watch these three specific things:
- The Red Zone Target Share: See if Porter is getting the "jump ball" looks that Fields used to get. If he is, the offense becomes much more efficient inside the 20.
- Cam Williams' Development: The former top-50 recruit has been quiet. If he pushes Porter for snaps, Notre Dame suddenly has two elite boundary options.
- The Slot Rotation: With Faison being a multi-sport athlete, watch how Mike Brown rotates KK Smith and the incoming freshmen to keep the "speed" element of the offense alive during spring.
The days of Notre Dame relying solely on a 6-foot-5 tight end to bail out the quarterback are ending. This wide receiver room has the size, the speed, and—for the first time in a long time—the depth to actually compete with the SEC's best.