If you’re Marcus Freeman, you can be sure of three things in life. Death, taxes, and using the Transfer Portal to get a kicker. Freeman and his staff have hired a graduate transfer for the role in each of his first three seasons, and in 2025, former North Carolina kicker Noah Burnette will join the Irish, continuing the trend.
Burnette nailed 79 percent of his field goal tries and scored 285 points during his tenure with the Tar Heels. Burnette had his greatest season in Chapel Hill in 2023, hitting all 43 of his extra points and going 19 of 20 on field goals. After the 2023 season, the 5-foot-10, 175-pound player was selected to the AP Second-Team All-ACC. The North Carolina native made 15 of 21 field goals as a senior in 2024, including a career-long 52-yard shot against Georgia Tech.
Burnette made 12-of-18 but went 16-19 from 40-49 yards and 2-of-5 on field goals more than 50 yards during his tenure with the Tar Heels, suggesting that he struggled more in the intermediate range of 30-39 yards than anyplace else on the field. Burnette will now attempt to emulate Mitch Jeter, Blake Grupe, and Spencer Shrader, who all had successful final seasons in South Bend as graduate transfers. Shrader, a rookie in the NFL, has spent time with the Colts, Chiefs, and Jets this season, while Grupe remains with the Saints.