Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2019 Notre Dame Football Preview
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TIGHT ENDS QUOTABLE: OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR/TIGHT ENDS COACH CHIP LONG ON THE PROGRESS OF SOPHOMORE TOMMY TREMBLE IN THE SECOND HALF OF SPRING DRILLS: "If there's a guy on offense who's progressed to now where you think he can really help us next year, it probably would be him. He's got great athleticism and great speed, and is a really physical player. He just has to learn football. He missed his senior year of high school [with an ankle injury]. He doesn't know what he's doing — but he does it naturally, which is a good starting point. "He's been really exciting for me, just the things we'll be able to do with him in the fall if he keeps progressing the way he is." Starter ★★★ Rivals ranked junior Cole Kmet as the No. 95 overall recruit in his class, and that talent has been evident at times during his first two seasons with the Irish. When Alizé Mack went down with an injury for two games, Kmet stepped in and hauled in six passes for 72 yards, numbers that would have given him 39 catches for 468 yards if projected out over an entire season. Kmet has all the traits Notre Dame covets at the position — he is long and athletic, runs good routes and has top-notch ball skills. Vital to him in 2019 will be improving as a blocker, staying healthy and adding vertical production. Experience ★★½ Overall experience is the primary issue at the posi- tion. Kmet was the backup tight end a season ago, and junior Brock Wright has been a rotation player, but the duo has combined for just 506 career snaps, 146 fewer than Mack played in 2018 alone. Kmet has never been asked to be a central figure in the offense, outside of a brief two-game stretch in 2018 when Mack was injured. Wright has never been more than a situational short-yardage player. Both are taking on much larger roles. Furthermore, when sophomores Tommy Tremble and George Takacs step on the field in the fall, they will be taking their first snaps. Depth ★★★ When experience is removed from the equation, there is much to be excited about when evaluating the depth chart. Notre Dame has four scholarship tight ends on the roster, and both Kmet and Wright were Rivals top 100 recruits, Takacs was ranked No. 182 over- all nationally by ESPN and Tremble is the best athlete among the group. This group provides a versatile blend of skills as well, with Kmet as an all-around figure, Wright bringing blocking and chain-moving prowess, Takacs (6-6, 250) adding length and Tremble supplying unique speed to the position. The Georgia native ran a 4.63 in the 40- yard dash at the Nike Football The Opening in Atlanta prior to his junior season of high school. Overall Grade ★★★ Based on the spring, tight end has a chance to once again be a strength on offense. Kmet seemed to adapt to the full-time starting role well, and his decision to stop playing baseball — prompted by elbow soreness as a southpaw pitcher — was evidence that he is taking the leading role at the position seriously. He and quar- terback Ian Book developed a strong on-field rapport this spring. Wright can work open on intermediate routes and has made much-needed improvements as a blocker. Tremble is the wild-card. His speed, route running and ball skills are special, but he's relatively undersized (6-3, 237) and lacks experience. If he is ready to contribute, this position will thrive. BY THE NUMBERS 3 Different tight ends caught touchdown passes for Notre Dame last season — Alizé Mack (three), Nic Weishar (two) and Brock Wright (one) — which was the second time that ever occurred in school history. The first happened a year earlier in 2017 when Mack, Weishar and Durham Smythe each snared at least one. 4 Notre Dame recruits at any position signed since 2013 who had a higher national ranking from Rivals than current junior tight end Brock Wright (No. 44): linebacker Jaylon Smith (No. 3) in 2013, offensive lineman Quenton Nelson (No. 29) in 2014, defensive end/linebacker Daelin Hayes (No. 31) in 2016 and cornerback Houston Griffith (No. 43) in 2018. 56 Receptions hauled in by Fighting Irish tight ends last season that totaled 544 yards and six scores. It was the most catches by the position group in a season since 58 during the 12-1 campaign in 2012. The school record is 66 in 2011 — with 63 of them by Tyler Eifert. PRESEASON ANALYSIS ★★★★★ National Title; ★★★★ Top 10; ★★★ Top 25; ★★ Too Unproven; ★ Major Concern 74 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW The speed of sophomore Tommy Tremble provides an added dimension to the tight end corps. PHOTO BY COREY BODDEN