Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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16 NOV. 20, 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED "He had a tough string of things that had happened to him over the four years, and it wasn't the best sit‑ uation. He talked to Coach [Brian] Kelly, got to meet [offensive coordi‑ nator and tight ends] Coach [Chip] Long and [director of football perfor‑ mance Matt] Balis, and it was an easy decision for him after that." Smythe's 12 receptions in the first nine games of 2017 matched his total from his junior and senior campaigns combined. He has also been a critical piece in developing a deep group of tight ends around him, while help‑ ing the Irish offense to 7.04 yards per rush, the best mark in the nation. "I referenced this with my family a couple weeks ago, but it is kind of crazy how well it worked out for the entire team and for me per‑ sonally," Smythe said of his return. "I don't think I could've asked for someone better than Coach Long, who has played the position, who excelled at the position, who has coached the position and is an of‑ fensive coordinator. "That combination has definitely been great for me personally and our unit and the offense." When Christmas break was set to end nearly one year ago, Smythe was still undecided on a possible re‑ turn. He met with Long and instantly bought into everything he had to sell. "The first day I came back from Christmas break I went upstairs and I knew right away from a person‑ ality standpoint that I clicked with him," Smythe said. "That was obvi‑ ous right away and moving forward when I met with him, he showed me some film of what he's done in the past with guys in a couple different offenses. "Once we went through a couple spring practices, and I knew exactly how he was going to utilize our room, I knew." With all of the talent around him at the tight end position — which Smythe considers to be the deepest group of his time in South Bend — the Belton, Texas, native sometimes gets lost in the shuffle. With his personality, he's just fine with that. In fact, when asked about a touchdown reception in the 35‑14 win over North Carolina State, Smythe will quickly change the sub‑ ject to some run blocks of which he is just as proud. "It's nice to be recognized every now and then for making a play in the pass game, but for me it's just the same as blocking and sealing some‑ body on the edge and Josh [Adams] running 70 yards for a touchdown," Smythe said. "There's been some progression in terms of the passing game, but the blocking is something we've done as a tight end unit the whole season." McGlinchey, a likely first‑round pick in next spring's NFL Draft, is effusive with praise about Smythe's impact on the team and in the left tackle's life. The pair live off cam‑ pus together with offensive lineman Hunter Bivin. "He's a team guy first and has al‑ ways been that way," McGlinchey said. "No matter what we've thrown at him from the top down, he's al‑ ways been at the forefront to attack it head on. We joke about him being old reliable and calling him the Buick out there on the field because he's always there. "When a play needs to be made, he makes the play. He's always blocking all over the field. No matter what's been thrown at him, no matter what the situation is for him, he's been the starting tight end for three and a half years now. "He's just stuck with it, and things really started falling into place for him here as soon as the break came with the strength training and offen‑ sive transition." Smythe is well aware of the foun‑ dation recent Irish players have laid in developing the reputation of "Tight End U." "There's a certain responsibility of almost carrying the torch just because there are so many guys. It dates back to the '70s and the '80s, and a few before that," he said. "There's a little bit of a responsibility to keep up that tradition in our room, and as a group we're doing the best we can." Although Smythe might not be re‑ membered in the same breath as An‑ thony Fasano (2002‑05), John Carlson (2003‑07), Kyle Rudolph (2008‑10), Tyler Eifert (2009‑12), Troy Niklas (2011‑13) and others, he is a critical part of what has become a season to remember at Notre Dame. ✦ Through nine games, Smythe ranked fourth on the team with 12 receptions for 218 yards and one touchdown. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA BY ANDREW OWENS F or Durham Smythe, the season that has been was almost the season that wasn't. After starting 15 games in 2015‑16 — he was injured the other 10 — Smythe agonized over whether to return for a fifth season for the Irish. "It was at least a 50‑50 shot that he would leave, which was scaring me," fel‑ low fifth‑year senior Mike McGlinchey recalled. "As his best friend, I didn't want him to leave because I knew I was going to be back here. I didn't want to do it without him, but he had a tough decision to make. I think he made the right one being a Notre Dame homer and seeing the success we've had so far. THE OLD RELIABLE Fifth-year senior tight end Durham Smythe is flourishing in his final season with the Irish