Notre Dame Defensive End Josh Burnham Is Entering The Transfer Portal
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Notre Dame suffered a tough blow as defensive end Josh Burnham announced he is entering the transfer portal. Burnham enters the portal with one final season of eligibility remaining and the Irish defense will have to replace a really talented player.
Here is some of what Burnham had to say about his decision to leave Notre Dame:
"I am incredibly blessed to have been able to be part of this program for the past four years. Notre Dame is very special and has been a place that shaped me into the person I am today. I have grown so much as a football player but even more so as a man. I am forever grateful. Thank you, Coach Freeman, and the rest of the coaching staff, for the leadership, wisdom and continued support on and off the field. The lessons that you've taught me will carry me throughout my life."
…. After prayer, thoughtful consideration and reflection, I have decided to enter into the NCAA Transfer Portal with one year of eligibility remaining."
Burnham has been a key part of the defensive line rotation the last three seasons. He was really good for Notre Dame in the playoffs in 2024, including a crucial stop near the goal that forced Penn State to settle for a field goal early in the game. That proved impactful in a game the Irish won 27-24.
Early in 2025 we didn't see as much of Burnham, who was supposedly injured and limited. What was interesting is that Burnham still played in every game and was used on special teams in games where his defensive snaps were limited. For example, in the win over Arkansas, Burnham played twice as many special teams snaps as he played on defense, and he played more special teams snaps against NC State and USC (35) than he did defensive snaps (27).
It wasn't until the Boston College game that Burnham was thrust into the starting lineup and he made an immediate impact. He finished that game with three tackles for loss and a sack. Burnham had two sacks in the 37-15 win over Pittsburgh and he threw an 84-yard touchdown pass in the season-ending win over Stanford. In the final five games of the season, Burnham finished with 16 quarterback pressures according to Pro Football Focus, he had 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks. Burnham finished third on the Notre Dame defense in tackles for loss and tied for third in sacks despite ranking 21st on the defensive in total snaps.
That last part of the recap could go a long way towards understanding why Burnham is jumping in the portal even though he ended the season as a starter and as a very productive part of the defense.
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