Marcus Freeman announced the departure of several players on Wednesday morning.

Safety Justin Walters has medically retired, Freeman said. Linebacker Will Schweitzer also announced on Wednesday that he is leaving the program due to a medical retirement.

Additionally, cornerback Philip Riley, kicker Josh Bryan and offensive lineman Caleb Johnson are “no longer with the program,” per Freeman.

Riley was a 4-star recruit in the class of 2021, but appeared in just 5 games over the past 2 seasons.

Bryan never carved out a consistent role in Notre Dame’s special teams unit during 2 seasons with the Irish. He made 1 extra point as a true freshman in 2021 in a 55-0 win over Georgia Tech.

Johnson was a 4-star prospect in the class of 2021. However, he played in just 1 game over the past 2 seasons at Notre Dame.

What this means for Notre Dame

None of the players who are departing were expected to play significant roles for the Irish in 2023. Their departures mean that Notre Dame now has extra scholarships to work with in the spring if they need to add additional help via the transfer portal.

The NCAA’s transfer portal window will re-open on May 1.

Notre Dame began spring practice on Wednesday. The Irish’s annual spring game will be held on Saturday, April 22.