Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com OCT. 30, 2021 51 IRISH IN THE PROS BY TODD D. BURLAGE C arolina Panthers rookie starter and former standout Notre Dame tight end Tommy Tremble has never been an overly braggadocios type of player. In fact, during his time with the Irish from 2018-20, Tremble's style was al- ways to let his work ethic talk louder than his mouth. But when asked about a unique career feat he accomplished at both Notre Dame and Carolina, Tremble let his guard down some. With a seven-yard touchdown run on a jet sweep in a 24-9 win over the Hous- ton Texans Sept. 24, Tremble joined a small fraternity of players who scored a touchdown on their first career touches in both college and the NFL. Tremble previously snagged a 26- yard touchdown for Notre Dame on his first career college catch in the 2019 season opener against Louisville. "Yeah, that's pretty awesome," Trem- ble said of his accomplishment. "I'm proud of that because I don't think many players can make that claim." With three catches for 42 yards and two touchdowns through six games with the Panthers, Tremble is making a gradual transition from college to pros. It's the same pattern of patience and performance Tremble followed during his two full seasons playing at Notre Dame in 2019 and 2020 after redshirting as an Irish freshman in 2018. Overshadowed by future second- round NFL Draft pick Cole Kmet in 2019 and Freshman All-American tight end Michael Mayer in 2020, Tremble re- corded 35 catches for 401 yards with four touchdowns in 25 career games at Notre Dame, solid production numbers, though not exactly eye-popping. Perhaps a victim of his own versatility, Tremble — who came to Notre Dame as an undersized 210-pound three-star receiv- ing tight end — was used primarily as a blocker in college, in part because he did it better than any of his position mates. "That part, I guess, it messed with my confidence a little bit when they didn't throw me the ball," explained Tremble, who made a strong case as the nation's best blocking tight end last season. "I fi- nally had to get out of my own head and realize that just by doing your job and do- ing what you're asked to do, you can really help the team more than just trying to be the best or worrying about all the stats." Somewhat surprising at the time, Tremble left Notre Dame after his junior season, even without a strong statistical profile for NFL coaches and execs to go by. With the 2021 NFL Draft Combine canceled because of the pandemic, Notre Dame's pro day in March became Tremble's time to shine. He delivered with a blazing 4.59-second 40-yard dash as a versatile 6-4, 250-pound player who put on almost 40 pounds during three years working under Fight- ing Irish strength coach Matt Balis. Forty pounds heavier but still nimble enough to play on four special team units for the Panthers, Tremble vowed before his pro day that his best is yet to come. "My biggest strength, I think, is my versatility in all aspects of the game," said Tremble, who became the eighth Irish tight end drafted during the 12- year Brian Kelly coaching era. "No mat- ter what anyone else says, they haven't seen me do it all like that yet. They've only seen me do a tiny bit of it." ✦ Tremble joined a small fraternity of players who scored a touchdown on their first career touches in both college and the NFL, when he tallied a seven-yard rushing score in Carolina's 24-9 win at Houston Sept. 24. PHOTO COURTESY CAROLINA PANTHERS Tommy Tremble Making A Quick NFL Impact MEMORABILIA Call 877-630-8768 to advertise in Blue & Gold Illustrated! M A R K E T P L A C E Vintage Notre Dame Memorabilia Augie's Locker Room ND Stadium Items, Jerseys, Helmets, Autographs and One-of-a-Kind Rockne Items. 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Contact Peter Rahas at 7700 Golden Filly St., Las Vegas, NV 89131 or call 1-702-395-2974 NOTRE DAME IN THE NFL: WEEK 6 HIGHLIGHTS • Cole Kmet (Played at Notre Dame from 2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears: Caught four passes for a season-high 49 yards in Chicago's 24-14 loss to Green Bay … Started each of the 3-3 Bears' first six contests and had 14 receptions for 130 yards and no touchdowns. • Julian Okwara (2016-19), DE, Detroit Lions: Recorded his first career NFL sack and made two tackles in Detroit's 34-11 loss to Cincinnati … Has played in all six games for the 0-6 Lions and notched three tackles with one sack. • Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings: Made nine tackles (eight solo) in the Vikings' 34-28 overtime win at Carolina … Started each of 3-3 Minnesota's first six games, and compiled 49 tackles, one sack and two passes defended … Ranked 14th in the NFL in tackles. • Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dol- phins: Reeled in a season-high five catches for 59 yards in Miami's 23-20 overtime defeat at the hands of Jacksonville in London … Had 10 receptions for 97 yards while starting four of the 1-5 Dolphins' first six games.