It’s no secret Notre Dame highly values the tight end position.
Just look at sophomore Michael Mayer, who as a true freshman tied for the team lead in receptions (42) last year. Mayer is expected to have an even bigger impact in his second season in South Bend.
Head coach Brian Kelly and company pulled Mayer out of Independence, Kentucky. Now Kelly’s staff is recruiting another tight end prospect from a much farther away location. For one of the most important position on the roster, though, location is never an issue.
Cooper Flanagan of Concord (Calif.) De La Salle visited Notre Dame’s campus on June 12. The 6-5, 230-pound recruit from the class of 2023 was mesmerized by the film session he had with Notre Dame tight ends coach John McNulty.
McNulty taught Flanagan the ins and outs of a tight end’s responsibilities in Notre Dame’s offensive scheme. They went over routes, formations and rotations in different sets.
“I could tell they definitely use tight ends a lot,” Flanagan said.
Notre Dame has not offered Flanagan a scholarship yet. He has offers from at least eight schools, most notably nearby Cal as well as Michigan, Michigan State, Tennessee and Washington. Flanagan was set to visit Cal shortly after his Notre Dame visit. He also recently visited Michigan.
An offer from Notre Dame, though, could be a game-changer. He’d be able to team up with fellow De La Salle product Isaiah Foskey, who recorded 20 total tackles and had 4.5 sacks in his third year with the Irish.
Of course, a Notre Dame offer in and of itself would be life-changing too.
“That would be incredible,” Flanagan said. “Honestly a dream come true.”
Notre Dame currently has two tight end commitments in the class of 2022 — four-star recruit Holden Staes of Atlanta Westminster and three-star recruit Eli Raridon of West Des Moines (Iowa) Valley.
Staes is the No. 16 tight end in the country per Rivals’ recruiting rankings. Notre Dame also has extended offers to three tight ends in the class of 2023, all of whom rank as four-star players. That goes to show that should Flanagan receive an offer from The Irish, he’d be in good company.
“Just pretty much a dream come true,” Flanagan reiterated.
----
• Learn more about our print and digital publication, Blue & Gold Illustrated.
• Watch our videos and subscribe to our YouTube channel.
• Sign up for Blue & Gold's news alerts and daily newsletter.
• Subscribe to our podcast on Apple Podcasts.
• Follow us on Twitter: @BGINews, @BGI_LouSomogyi, @Rivals_Singer, @PatrickEngel_ and @ToddBurlage.
• Like us on Facebook.
