Notre Dame Is Poised To Continue Its Outstanding Tight End Play

The tight end position has certainly been a strength for Notre Dame for the better part of the last few decades, but the Fighting Irish must figure out a way to replace the program's all-time leading pass catcher at the position. Despite the loss of All-American Michael Mayer, the future looks very bright for the tight end room.

Last season's position coach returns, but now Gerad Parker is the program's new offensive coordinator. Needless to say, that should bode well for the position group as it enters the post-Mayer era.

THE PAST

Notre Dame has certainly earned the right to be in the conversation for "Tight End U." Mayer built on that legacy, but when every starting tight end since the late 1990s goes on to get drafted you're doing something right.

Other than a brief stretch in 2015-16, the tight end position has been a focal point of the Notre Dame offense for a long time. It really kicked off again in the first year of the Charlie Weis era, when Anthony Fasano hauled in 47 passes for 576 yards. It started a stretch of 10 years where the top two tight ends combined for at least 40 catches in eight of 10 seasons, and seven of 10 seasons in which the top two tight ends caught at least 42 passes. Five of those seasons saw the top two tight ends caught over 50 passes.

After the brief slow down in 2015-16, the tight end position got back on track.

Over the last six seasons (2017-22), the Notre Dame tight ends have averaged 63.7 catches and 700.7 yards per season. The last three seasons have seen the most production, with the Irish tight ends hauling in an average of 73 passes for 843 yards per season.

THE PRESENT

It is highly unlikely that Notre Dame's tight ends will match the production levels we've seen in recent seasons, and there are a couple of reasons for that. The first is obvious, and that is the current roster, as much potential as it has, doesn't have a Michael Mayer available in 2023. The second is that the Notre Dame wide receivers are expected to get a much bigger chunk of the production than we've seen in recent seasons.

In the first game after Mayer's departure, rising junior Mitchell Evans showed he's more than capable of being a key part of the offense. Evans caught "just" three passes for 39 yards, but he was clutch, converting a 3rd-and-15 to set up the team's first touchdown, and he caught the game winning touchdown with less than two minutes remaining.

Rising sophomore Holden Staes showed promise as a rookie, and he's expected to make a jump in year two. Staes is a modern tight end that can play attached, line up in a wing and move outside, even in a pure boundary position. His classmate, Eli Raridon, also has elite tools, although his return this season is still cloudy after he tore his his right knee twice in less than a year.

Notre Dame also welcomed freshman Cooper Flanagan to the roster this summer. Flanagan is a bit of a throwback tight end, but he has a lot more pass game potential than he showed in high school due to his offensive scheme. Flanagan could push for early playing time, especially in injuries continue with the older players. Notre Dame is also expected to get senior Kevin Bauman back from injury, and former walk-on Davis Sherwood has earned a key blocking role, and he's pretty good at it.

There is no doubt this unit has talent. There's plenty of big play potential, there's blocking potential, there's great size (the unit averages over 6-5 and 248 pounds). There's a lot to like about this unit, but there are two concerns. One I'm not overly concerned about, and that is the lack of past production. That was more about being blocked by Mayer than anything else. The second is the greater concern, and that is injuries. Staes is the only returning scholarship tight end who hasn't missed multiple games with an injury. This unit must prove it can stay healthy.

THE FUTURE

Flanagan has already arrived, but the 2024 and 2025 tight end situations are also looking quite promising.

Notre Dame landed North Carolina standout Jack Larsen last summer after he had an outstanding performance at the team's Irish Invasion camp. Larsen doesn't have the great size or vertical speed of some of the current players, but he's an advanced route runner and his ball skills and hands are as good as any tight end in the country. His game is eerily similar to that of former Florida State standout Nick O'Leary.

Notre Dame also recently picked up Oklahoma star Nate Roberts, who is arguably the best tight end in the 2025 class. Roberts has a unique size (6-4, 230) and speed combination, and despite being relatively new to tight end (he previously played quarterback), he showed a great feel for the position as a sophomore. Roberts can line up all over the field and do damage in the pass game and run game, but his big play ability is what sets him apart from most tight ends.

The talent in the 2023-25 classes is very good, but what I like about that trio (Flanagan, Larsen, Roberts) is that they are all different players. Flanagan is a bit of a throwback, Larsen is more of a wing/slot tight end and Roberts is very much a modern tight end due to his ability to use his athleticism to make big plays and to play outside, inside and attached. The complementary nature of their skills not only gives Parker a lot of different tools to work with, but it allows them to be used together in many ways.

The present should be strong and the future is looking extremely bright for Notre Dame at tight end, especially after landing Roberts in the 2025 class.

Notre Dame will likely also look to add another tight end in either the 2024 or 2025 class, although which remains to be seen.

Be sure to check out the Irish Breakdown message board, the Champions Lounge

Irish Breakdown Content

2023 Scholarship Chart
2023 Football Schedule

Notre Dame 2024 Scholarship Offers

2024 Commit Rankings - Offense
2024 Commit Rankings - Defense

2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Offense
2023 Recruiting Class Grades - Defense

———————

Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more.

BECOME A MEMBER

Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time!

Join the Irish Breakdown community!
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes
Follow me on Twitter: @CoachD178
Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook

Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter