Notre Dame Doubles Down At Tight End — Again
For many years, the stance at Blueandgold.com has been that the two easiest positions to recruit at Notre Dame are tight end and offensive line.
There are at least two reasons why. One is what head coach Brian Kelly would refer to as “traits,” or indigenous qualities that mesh with the University.
Or as head coach Lou Holtz aptly described offensive linemen during his tenure at Notre Dame from 1986-96: “They’re the kind of people who know exactly what classes they will take two semesters from now, they tend to marry at a younger age than the average player, and very rarely will you read in a newspaper about an offensive lineman stealing a motorcycle or car like you would about a defensive lineman or player, who tends to be more wild.”
Second is a tradition of excellence at a particular spot, as Notre Dame has had at tight end. Since 1974, the Fighting Irish have had 10 tight ends drafted by the NFL in the first or second round, and a similar amount who were not that played in the league, including All-Pro Mark Bavaro.
Thursday’s verbal commitment from Norcross, Ga. tight end Tommy Tremble made it the 10th time since 2000 the Irish are expected to sign at least two tight ends in the same class. Earlier in the 2018 recruiting cycle the Irish received a verbal from Naples, Fla., native George Takacs.
How will the Takacs/Tremble stack up against these nine tight ends in the same class since 2000?
2000: Jerome Collins and Billy Palmer
They each had only six catches apiece at Notre Dame, but Palmer was used primarily as a blocker, and Collins was on an NFL roster three seasons (winning two Super Bowl rings).
2002: Anthony Fasano and Marcus Freeman
Currently with the Miami Dolphins, Fasano is completing his 12th season in the NFL and has 296 career catches (36 touchdowns). Freeman had 14 catches at Notre Dame and played one year in the NFL.
2003: John Carlson and Greg Olsen
Olsen transferred from Notre Dame to Miami two weeks into fall camp and has made the last three Pro Bowls. Carlson caught 100 passes at Notre Dame and 210 (15 touchdowns) during a six-year NFL career.
2006: Konrad Reuland and Will Yeatman
Both Californians transferred, Reuland to Stanford and Yeatman to Maryland, and had NFL careers. Reuland died last December at 29 from a brain aneurysm.
2008: Joseph Fauria and Kyle Rudolph
Fauria transferred to UCLA after his freshman year and would catch 88 career passes with the Bruins, 20 for TDs. As an NFL rookie, seven of Fauria’s 18 catches went for scores, three in one game.
Rudolph, who caught 90 passes at Notre Dame, turned pro after his junior year and has 318 career receptions (53 this year) and 36 TDs (seven so far this season) while again vying for Pro Bowl honors with the Minnesota Vikings.
2011: Ben Koyack and Troy Niklas
Both are currently in the NFL, with Niklas — who played defense as a Notre Dame freshman — becoming a second-round pick after his junior season. Koyack was the lone Fighting Irish selection in the 2015 draft.
Niklas has eight catches for 91 yards and a touchdown this year for the Arizona Cardinals. Koyack snagged a career high 16 passes at Jacksonville last season (one for a score), and has two this season.
2013: Mike Heuerman and Durham Smythe
Injuries ended the football career of Heuerman prior to the 2015 season. Smythe also was sidelined most of 2015 with two surgeries, but was the starter the past two seasons. His 26 career catches have averaged 14.3 yards and included six touchdowns.
2014: Tyler Luatua and Nic Weishar
A regular in the lineup the past three years, Weishar has indicated he will return for a fifth season with the Irish in 2018. Two of his seven receptions this year resulted in touchdowns.
A standout blocker, highlighted by a strong performance as a freshman in the 2014 Music City Bowl win versus LSU, Luatua incurred multiple concussions before leaving the sport and going on medical hardship last year.
2017: Cole Kmet and Brock Wright
The top-two ranked recruits in Notre Dame’s class last season — Wright No. 44 and Kmet No. 95 nationally, per Rivals — both saw action as freshmen. Kmet played 58 snaps this past regular season, finishing with two catches for 14 yards. Wright was utilized as an old-fashioned, lead-blocking fullback in short-yardage situations, receiving 30 snaps.
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