The last off-season installment of the 2023 depth chart preview is taking a look at tight end university. After the prolific Michael Mayer era officially comes to an end it’ll be a transitional year for the Irish but one they hope will still provide plenty of production at this position.
Previous 2023 depth chart articles:
Offensive Line
Defensive Line
Wide Receiver
Linebacker
Quarterback
Running Back
Secondary
Projected 2023 Tight Ends
| Tight End |
|---|
| Evans, Jr. |
| Staes, So. |
| Bauman, r-Jr. |
| Raridon, r-Fr. |
| Sherwood, Jr. |
| Flanagan, Fr. |
*Returning starters
Experience: C
Depth: B+
Talent: B
Moving on From Michael
The aforementioned Mayer caught 180 passes in 3 season for Notre Dame and the returning players on the roster have caught a combined 9 passes over their careers. I would bet most wouldn’t expect that it’s Kevin Bauman who leads the way with 5 of those receptions.
For sure, Mitchell Evans is expected to step up into the role as the next starter for the Irish. With his “Mitchapalooza” quarterback sneak performance in 2022 (5 first downs with a touchdown on 7 attempts) it feels like he’s made a big impact even though Evans only caught 3 passes for 39 yards–good for 12th and second-to-last on the team in yardage.
All 3 of those catches did come in the bowl game with Mayer sitting out, so that’s a good sign. Especially since the Irish went to Evans on the game-winning touchdown.
Focus on Tight End
Let’s preface this by saying there’s probably a less than 10% chance there’s a significant reduction in the role of the tight end at Notre Dame in 2023. But it’s not impossible.
Much of this is colored by the production of Sam Hartman at Wake Forest who is accustomed to playing in more 4-receiver sets with the tight end being the 5th or 6th best receiving option. Now, he’s coming to a program where tight ends are running all over the field in multiple roles with some hoping to have the ball thrown to them.
At least for last year, former walk-on Davis Sherwood was given a scholarship (and saw the field a little bit) which gives the Irish 6 different options at tight end for 2023.
Recovering the Wounded
There may not be as many as 6 tight ends ready for the season, though. Bauman is recovering from a torn knee and is likely healthy enough for the fall but needs to put together a healthy season heading into his 4th year on campus. We also saw Eli Raridon tear his knee last year (luckily he saved a year of eligibility) and his status for 2023 is a little more uncertain. As we brought up in his Reviewing the Redshirts article, it may be smart to have Raridon sit out if the program feels there’s enough depth ahead of him for 2023.
Either way, this should be an interesting year of transition for Notre Dame. One possible quirk is that Hartman’s throwing abilities actually makes someone like Mitchell Evans a little more explosive and dangerous than Mayer. I highly doubt Evans will be targeted as much as Mayer but is it possible Hartman boosts the catching averages for the tight ends and we see a few more deep balls completed to the big guys?
I could see Evans with about half the numbers Mayer put up, with maybe a couple more yds. per catch. So how about 32rec. 5TDs and 14ypc. 450yds. He won’t be getting the attention Mayer did, if Hartman spreads the ball around, so I expect him to have a good year.
Looks reasonable and I would take that from Evans as a good season.
Boy, I would love 14 YPC from a TE at ND. Since 2000, I think only one TE with double digit receptions has cleared 14 YPC. Shockingly, that was Troy Niklas in 2013. Funny enough, he had exactly 32 catches and 5 TDs that year, but 498 receiving yards (15.6 YPC)! I did not remember him having that nice of a season for ND.
After 3 years of Rudolph and then 3 years of Eifert, Troy Niklas and Ben “Lumberjack” Koyack both had nice single season contributions in their final years.
I’ve been intrigued by the possibility of more 10 and 20 personnel sets (no tight end, more two back sets).
But thinking about our skills players and relative talent at position, I’m thinking:
On the one hand I’d like to use the early games to get all those receivers reps to see who stands out, and who doesn’t want to see more spread sets from ND?
On the other hand, Eric you’ve convinced me that Evans could be dangerous in the middle of the field if we really develop some deep threats outside.
1A/1B Estime and Diggs, Otherwise agree.
I hope that since, even I can see the easier first 2 games on the sked as a great time to get everyone involved and determine who goes forward in the #1 slots for OG, WR, & TE…maybe a brand new OC see the same.
Then settle the starters in against NC State to be ready for OSU.
Bauman and Raridon are both expected to miss all of spring practice, which while not terribly surprising given the knee injuries still stinks.
The position group will be in good hands with Evans and Staes taking most of the snaps. Sherwood played mostly fullback last year (and threw one pass) and I’d expect him to continue in that role. It’d be cool to get him a touchdown in a goal line set, but otherwise we likely don’t need to allocate him any receptions.
Prior to the second ACL tear I’d been relentlessly optimistic about Raridon being a super-elite tight end. If injuries have derailed his career I’ll mourn that loss a little more than normal.
Both Raridon and Price are coming back from injuries that pose serious threats to their careers. Fingers crossed for both as they both have so much potential.
Also, kinda random aside, but I saw that Drue Tranquill signed a 1 year deal for $5.0 million with the Chiefs. Nice for him. Researched and saw his four-year rookie contract was for a total of $5.1m. Always great to see those who survive long enough to get that second contract money