Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer Preparing for Double & Triple Teams With A Smile
Michael Mayer is a household name.
The nation’s top tight end might have gotten snubbed by the Mackey Award a year ago, but Mayer doesn’t care. Mayer’s stats speak for themselves and the only goal on his mind is winning a national title.
"As a team, undefeated season, national championship,” stated Mayer when asked for his goals in 2022. “I think that's agreed upon with everyone in that building. Personally, I'm going to go try to play my best football. I know that that sounds cliche or whatever, but I'm going to try to play my best football. I'm not worried about any more records here. I'm not truly worried about the Mackey Award. I want to win a national championship over that.”
The Kentucky native has recorded 113 receptions for 1,290 yards and nine scores in his first years at Notre Dame and Mayer knows he’s going to be a focus of every defense the Irish play this season.
And it’s a challenge he’s embraced - even if that means not getting the ball.
“If I can still get open while I'm being double or triple-teamed, I'm still going to try to get open and Ty (Tyler Buchner) is going to get me the ball if I'm open,” explained Mayer. "The attitude really doesn't change. The attitude is still get open and hopefully, the ball is going to find me. I'm not getting up to the line and be like, 'Shoot, they have two people on me. This route is dead.'
"Nothing changes from getting double or triple-teamed. I go out there and I'm going to run my route. If I don't win or they have two people on me, someone else is going to open up."
Yet, Notre Dame offensive coordinator Tommy Rees will be tasked with getting the All-American the ball. Mayer’s ability to line up all over the field will allow Rees to get creative, which can only be a positive as the Irish want its top tight end in favorable matchups.
“Coach Rees has trust in my out there, I know damn well Coach Parker has trust in my out there, and I know Tyler Buchner has trust in my out there,” said Mayer. “I’m going to be doing some things this year that will be pretty fun, so I’m pretty excited about it.”
Buchner will be a first-time starter on Sept. 3rd and Mayer expects him to make plays as the sophomore quarterback has put together an impressive offseason.
"Tyler has grown a lot,” stated Mayer. “He's been a big leader and he's become an even bigger leader after being announced QB1. His throws have grown, his running and legs have grown, his mental capacity to learn things and learn the plays and read the defense has grown. Overall, he's grown a lot and I can't say enough good things about him."
Mayer put in the work in the offseason, which included dropping a few pounds as he felt a little heavy last year at 265.
“Heading into week one here I’m about 260,” said Mayer. “So I’m about five pounds lighter. Going into camp I was 265 and I knew I was going to lose some weight during camp, that was my goal.
“Honestly, last year at 265 I felt slow. I didn’t like the way I was running. I mean, I was running some pretty good routes, but I feel like I was running them a little slower. My goal was to shave a little bit of that weight off. That’s what I did and I feel good. I feel fast. I feel a little bit more nimble - my break points, my outer routes. I feel it. 265 to 260 is a big difference. I feel it and I feel great.”
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