Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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24 APRIL 2018 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED TIGHT ENDS 2018 SPRING FOOTBALL PREVIEW S enior Alizé Mack has been Notre Dame's most physically gifted tight end since he first arrived on campus. The Las Vegas native was clutch as a freshman, making huge fourth-quarter grabs in wins over USC and Temple. Since then he has been academically ineligible for the 2016 season, suspended for the 2018 Citrus Bowl and was known more for his drops than plays he made in 2017. Mack improved as a blocker and he's a tough guard for opponents, but he must become a more dependable pass catcher and someone his coaches and teammates can count on. If he does, he will have a breakout season. Fifth-year senior Nic Weis- har will be limited from a contact standpoint this spring while he heals from a shoulder injury. Once he gets back to full speed, he'll provide the coaches with some- one they can rely on to do his job on a daily basis. The wild cards are rising sophomores Brock Wright and Cole Kmet, who Ri- vals ranked as the No. 1 and No. 3 tight ends in the country, respectively, when they signed as part of the 2017 class. Wright will be limited during the spring after offseason shoulder surgery, but he will be able to work on his route running and ball skills. Kmet is also pitching for the baseball team, but he plans to remain involved with spring football. The coach- ing staff loves Kmet's game, and if he has a good spring he could put himself in po- sition to become the top tight end should Mack not handle his business in the fall. BY THE NUMBERS 2 Career touchdown recep- tions by fifth-year senior Nic Weishar, which repre- sents the most in his posi- tion group. Both came last season in victories against Temple and Wake Forest. 4 Tight ends on 2017 NFL rosters that played at Notre Dame under Brian Kelly: Kyle Rudolph (Minnesota), Tyler Eifert (Cincinnati), Troy Niklas (Arizona) and Ben Koyack (Jacksonville). No other single position group for the Irish had more on an active roster in the Kelly era. A fifth could be added in 2018 with Durham Smythe. 45 Receptions last season by the Irish tight ends under first-year offensive coordi- nator Chip Long, who also happens to be the tight ends coach. The breakdown was Alizé Mack with 19, Smythe with 15, Weishar with nine and Cole Kmet with two. In the three pre- vious years before Long's ar- rival, Notre Dame tight ends totaled 31 (2014), 20 (2015) and 12 (2016) catches. WHO'S GONE Durham Smythe He was one of Notre Dame's most steady players the last two years, so his stabilizing presence will be missed. WHO'S BACK Senior Alizé Mack An ultra-talented player that has struggled with drops and staying eligible, he enters his "contract year" in South Bend. Fifth-Year Senior Nic Weishar A dependable player, and if he can stay healthy he'll finish his career off on a strong note. Sophomore Cole Kmet The Irish staff has spoken highly of him and some believe he could be the "next big thing" at the position. Sophomore Brock Wright Used mainly as a blocking "fullback" in short-yard- age situations last year. TOP NEWCOMERS Freshman George Takacs The early enrollee will be kept out of spring drills due to a cartilage injury. Returning Returning Year-End Year Starts Receiving Yards/TD Receiving Yards/TD 2017 23 393/5 476/4 2018 15 474/3 — POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH Senior Alizé Mack has more athletic talent than Durham Smythe, and his blocking improved vastly in 2017, but his inconsistency as a pass catcher and the fact he has now been suspended twice makes him far from dependable. If he can correct that, he'll replace Smythe. If Mack doesn't become more reliable, then fifth-year senior Nic Weishar will get a chance to challenge him. Sophomores Cole Kmet and Brock Wright will push hard to unseat the veterans. Brian Kelly's Take "[Alizé Mack] has not been on any [discipline/aca- demic] lists. He's done all the little things the right way for us off the field. His attention to detail has been great. Good for him. Now he's got to put that together." PHOTO BY ANGELA DRISKELL ALIZÉ MACK