Blue and Gold Illustrated

52 NOV. 1, 2025 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY TODD D. BURLAGE I t's been a long time coming. But former Irish tight end Michael Mayer's coming-out party Oct. 12 was ex- actly what the Las Vegas Raiders expected and have been waiting for since they se- lected the consensus All-American in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Returning to the Raiders after missing two games in concussion protocol, Mayer recorded 5 catches — the second most of his career — for 50 yards and a touchdown in a 20-10 win over the Tennessee Titans. Mayer's 4-yard touchdown grab put the Raiders up 10-0 in the second quar- ter and marked just the third scoring catch of his career and the first since his rookie season of 2023. "It feels amazing," Mayer said. "I re- ally want to be able to build on this. I don't want just one touchdown and be done for the rest of the season. I want to keep going, every chance I get, every practice I get, every game I get." Mayer later hauled in an 11-yard re- ception from Las Vegas quarterback Geno Smith on a fourth-and-1 that set up another Raiders touchdown. "It was awesome to have [Mayer] back," Smith said after the game. "As you can see, he played a phenomenal game. He's tough as crap, man. He plays so hard every game." Mayer had a rocky start to his NFL career. The Independence, Ky., native played in the first three games for the Raiders last season before leaving the team and missing almost two months for personal reasons. He never elaborated on his lengthy departure, and finished last season with a disappointing 21 catches for 156 yards with no touchdowns. With any personal hurdles seemingly cleared, Mayer said he's in a better place this season as both a gifted tight end and a terrific special teams player. As a couple of examples for the latter, in the two games Mayer missed with the concussion, the Raiders had a last-sec- ond field goal attempt blocked in a one- point loss to the Bears and a blocked punt the following week against the Colts. Both blocking breakdowns came from the position Mayer usually handles. "I have a lot to give," Mayer said. "I have plenty of football left, plenty more chances to help this team win, a lot of touchdowns to score." WE ARE THE CHAMPIONS For the third time in their terrific pro- fessional careers, former Notre Dame guards Jewell Loyd and Jackie Young are WNBA champions. Loyd and Young, teammates with Las Vegas and both former No. 1 overall WNBA Draft picks, helped the Aces com- plete a four-game sweep of the Phoenix Mercury Oct. 10, securing the third title in the last four years for the franchise. Playing her first season with the Aces, Young scored in double figures in all 12 playoff games, with five games of 20 points or more and two 32-point per- formances in the Finals. A complementary player to Young, Loyd averaged 11.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, 1.8 as- sists and 1.2 steals per game this season. As a side note, former Irish forward Kat Westbeld played for Phoenix in the Finals, making Notre Dame the only college team with three representatives in the title series. ✦ FIGHTING IRISH HEADLINERS Alohi Gilman (Played at Notre Dame from 2017-19), S, Baltimore Ravens, NFL Making his debut with the Baltimore Ravens Oct. 12, after being traded from the Los Angeles Chargers, the Laie, Hawai'i, native finished with 7 tackles — his second-most in a game this season — in a 17-3 loss to the Los Angeles Rams. The cross-country trade reunited Gilman with former Irish teammate and safety position mate Kyle Hamilton. In six games this season, Gilman had 29 tackles and 3 passes broken up. Blake Grupe (2022), PK, New Orleans Saints, NFL The former 2023 undrafted free agent did his part in a 25-19 loss to the New England Patriots Oct. 12. Even in a losing effort, the Sedalia, Mo., native made all 4 of his field goals in the game — with a long of 54 yards — and converted his lone point-after try to finish with 13 points. Through six games this season, Grupe made 14 of 19 field goals and 9 of 9 extra points for a total of 51 points. Marist Liufau, (2019-23), LB, Dallas Cowboys, NFL After struggling early this season, the former third-round draft pick played his best game in a 30-27 loss to the Carolina Panthers Oct. 12. The Kalihi, Hawai'i, native tal- lied a season-high 4 solo tackles and added his first sack of the season. Through six contests, Liufau had recorded 12 tackles (11 solo) with 1 sack and 1 forced fumble. Michael Mayer Makes A Triumphant Return To The Raiders I R I S H I N T H E P R O S Returning to the Raiders after missing two games in concussion protocol, Mayer recorded 5 catches for 50 yards and a touchdown in a 20-10 win over the Tennessee Titans Oct. 12. PHOTO BY JEFFERY BENNETT/LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

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