BY ANDREW IVINS
Notre Dame took somewhat of a
calculated risk in late June, when the
coaching staff decided that it was go-
ing to pass on a tight end this recruit-
ing cycle and look to take two in the
following year.
The gamble appears to have already
paid off.
Arlington Heights (Ill.) St. Viator
three-star tight end Cole Kmet commit-
ted to Notre Dame Oct. 2. He became
the fourth pledge in the class of 2017
for the Irish, but more importantly the
second piece to the puzzle at tight end.
Notre Dame made it clear after the
Irish Invasion camp June 19 that Cy-
press (Texas) Cy-Fair four-star tight
end Brock Wright was the staff's top
target at the position. Once he commit-
ted to the Irish June 26, Kmet emerged
as the second tight end on the board —
and for a telling reason.
"They plan for me and him to be
together," Kmet said. "[Associate head
coach Mike] Denbrock talked to me
about how they plan to use double
tight ends as much as possible. He be-
lieves that [Wright and I] compliment
each other very well.
"They see me as more of a wide re-
Irish Land Their Second Highly
Rated 2017 Tight End
Kmet, who is ranked by Rivals as the No. 5 prospect in Illinois and No. 10 tight end in the country,
selected the Irish over offers from Ohio State, Michigan State, Tennessee, South Carolina and Baylor.
PHOTO BY ANDREW IVINS
COMMITMENT PROFILE
COLE KMET
