Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer Drafted By Las Vegas

Notre Dame has its 523rd all-time draft selection as All-American tight end Michael Mayer has been drafted by the Las Vegas Raiders with the No. 35 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft. 

The 6-foot-4, 265-pounder was the third tight off the board as Utah’s Dalton Kincaid and Iowa’s Sam LaPorta were drafted before Mayer, who was a surprise second round selection. 

Mayer finished his Notre Dame career with 180 receptions for 2,099 yards and 18 touchdowns, which also includes making a reception in all 36 games in the blue and gold. The 180 catches place him No. 3 on Notre Dame’s all-time receptions list only behind Michael Floyd (271) and TJ Jones (181). 

In the regular season finale, Mayer caught two touchdown passes against USC, which gave him nine touchdowns on the year and broke his own record of seven in one season. Mayer’s 18 touchdowns give him the top spot in school history as he broke Ken MacAfee’s record of 15. 

The 2022 captain was the focus of every defense last fall, but still managed to record 67 receptions for 809 yards and nine touchdowns. 

"The attitude really doesn't change,” said Mayer. “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." 

Single Game Highs
Receptions: 11 (BYU 2022)
Receiving Yards: 120 (Florida State 2021)
Touchdowns: 2 (Four times)
Longest Reception: 52 yards (Georgia Tech 2021) 

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