Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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50 JUNE/JULY 2021 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED assumed Tremble would build off his sophomore success, but produc- tion stagnated last fall. He caught a few additional passes in 2020, but his yards per reception basically re- mained the same. Worse, he dropped almost 10 percent of catchable passes thrown his way and failed to record a touchdown grab. Still, at Notre Dame's pro day March 31, he ran a 4.59-second 40- yard dash at 6-3 and 241 pounds, so the athleticism is there for him to become a productive pass catcher at the next level. Plus, he excels in the run game and posted the best Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade among tight ends in 2020. Thus, when he declared for the 2021 NFL Draft, it was clear he'd need to be under the right coach, in a creative offensive system, to maxi- mize his potential. In Kelly's mind, that's exactly the situation Tremble entered after the Carolina Panthers selected him in the third round with the No. 83 overall pick. "Tommy Tremble is in a great posi- tion with Matt Rhule," Kelly said. "Matt is a college coach that had col- lege experience, understands player development, knows specifically what he's getting in Tommy. He's a younger player that he's got to bring along. "That's a great landing place for Tommy, and that's going to be a re- ally good situation for them in the next couple of years." As his route running and hands improve, Tremble's utility in the passing game should shoot through the roof. Tremble is also the fourth consec- utive Notre Dame tight end to be drafted, following Cole Kmet, Alizé Mack and Durham Smythe. Since Kelly took over the program prior to the 2010 season, he's had eight tight ends drafted. That's more than any other school in the country during that time span. Heading into the 2021 NFL Draft, Notre Dame was tied with Stanford, but the Panthers selecting Tremble put the Irish over the top. Per Spo- trac, he will sign a four-year contract worth $4.9 million. THE SAINTS' LATEST SIX-FOOT QB With a 30-5 record as a starter at Notre Dame, Ian Book has more wins than any quarterback in the history of the program. But heading into the draft, many NFL analysts felt he was a sixth- or seventh-round pick. A few even felt he could go un- drafted because that's where clip- board holders at the next level go. But just as Book did throughout his college career, he proved his doubters wrong and ended up as a fourth-round selection by the New Orleans Saints with the No. 133 over- all pick. Per Spotrac's rookie wage scale, Book's four-year contract will be worth $4.153 million. With the Saints' longtime starter Drew Brees retiring this past off- season, Book now enters a situation where the first-string quarterback job is up for grabs within a franchise accustomed to an undersized quar- terback. Both Brees and Book stand six-feet tall. "Book was in one of the most rec- ognizable quarterback positions in the entire country, and he's seen the ups and downs and persevered as being the all-time winningest quar- terback [at Notre Dame]," Kelly said. "He brings so many intangibles that nobody really can compete with, and then he can play the position. "New Orleans, obviously, is a great fit. They've already been with a quar- terback that is six-foot and recognizes that you don't throw over defensive linemen, you throw around them. Ian we will do quite well there." With two established quarterbacks on the Saints roster in Jameis Win- ston and Taysom Hill, actually be- coming the starter will still be a tall order. As for Notre Dame, Book became just the second Irish quarterback The Carolina Panthers selected tight end Tommy Tremble in the third round with the No. 83 overall pick. PHOTO BY BRANDON TODD/CAROLINA PANTHERS TIGHT ENDS SELECTED IN THE NFL DRAFT BY SCHOOL Since 2011 Rk. School TE Drafted 1. Notre Dame 8 2. Stanford 7 3. Alabama 6 4. Arkansas 5 Georgia 5 Miami 5 7. South Carolina 4 Michigan 4 Iowa 4 Ian Book was selected by the New Orleans Saints, a franchise with no clear-cut 2021 starter and until this season the longtime home for a similarly sized quarterback in Drew Brees. GRAPHIC COURTESY NEW ORLEANS SAINTS