Notre Dame's Book on Tremble: Best run-blocker I've ever seen
Tommy Tremble throttles back; really, he has no other choice.
Day after day on the practice field, Notre Dame’s third-year tight end resists his natural tendency to assert his physicality on each snap.
Come game day? Look out.
Lined up at both fullback and tight end, Tremble showed visiting South Florida’s defense as much Saturday afternoon, when he helped set an early tone for how physically overpowering the No. 7 Fighting Irish would be on the ground.
“I just love contact,” Tremble said on NBC. “I love it. I love to hit.
“Every time we call a run, I’m pumped up, excited.”
Tremble had ample opportunity to showcase that approach in a 52-0 pasting of the Bulls inside Notre Dame Stadium. The Fighting Irish finished with 281 rushing yards, their most since Nov. 9, 2019, when it amassed 288 at Duke.
After all, the 6-foot-4-inch, 248-pounder had waited all week. Then Notre Dame opened in a three-tight end set, and Tremble’s wishes were granted.
“In practice, I’m not trying to kill our guys and they’re not trying to kill me,” Tremble said. “So we want to protect each other then, but from time to time, we like to get a little physical. But it’s all pretty good.
“It was a relief; I always can’t wait till game day so that I can finally do it.”
Tremble helped establish the tone by land and air. He caught Ian Book’s first pass attempt for a 24-yard gain on what proved to be the first of seven-straight scoring drives for the Irish.
On the team’s second possession, Tremble sublimely sealed the right edge on a kick-out block that allowed freshman Chris Tyree to scamper untouched into the end zone.
“Honestly, I just love contact,” said Tremble, who finished with three receptions for a team-best 60 yards. “Love playing the game of football. It’s just pure passion for me. Every time I’m on the field, I just want to be dominant and I try my best to.
“I promise you, [a punishing block] feels just as good [as a catch]. I love doing it.”
A blowout-win that saw the Irish dispense carries among eight players, including five with at least four tries, quarterback Ian Book, he of three rushing touchdowns, pointed to Tremble as catalyst.
“He’s an unbelievable competitor, and you see that when he’s out in a route or maybe blocking, too,” said Book, who passed both Ron Powlus and Tommy Rees into third-place for Notre Dame’s career total offense with 7,605 yards. “Not maybe; he’s the best run-blocker I’ve ever seen.
“He’s just got something to him, he’s got a little nasty to him, and you see that as our running backs and quarterbacks. There’s nothing better when that guy is running and blocking for you.”