TE Kevin Bauman Looking to Finish Strong at Notre Dame

Kevin Bauman’s career hasn’t gone to plan. 

The New Jersey native will be the first to admit it.

Bauman has been on a wild ride since stepping on campus in 2020 and it’s unfortunately been stamped with injuries. 

After a redshirt year in 2020, Bauman broke his fibula in the season opener in 2021 at Florida State and he didn’t return until game 10. The next season, Bauman opened the year making a huge catch at Ohio State, but then tore his ACL in practice in week four. The 6-foot-5, 255-pounder then tore his ACL again last fall during preseason camp and missed the entire season. 

Bauman admits there have been some dark days and it’s hardly surprising given the level of adversity he’s faced. Yet, he’s back on the football field and looking to contribute in 2024. 

“I'm so thankful for my family, my close friends, my girlfriend, people like that who have stuck by my side through those times,” explained Bauman. “The dark days are not easy. I've actively made the decision to return to play multiple times when I really thought my football career would be over. I'm able to get through the dark days because of the people in my life and my relationship with God.” 

The surgeries are tough. It solidifies what life will be like for months and, in Bauman’s case, a long two-year stretch of rehab. There is also doubt and every emotion in those moments. 

Bauman didn’t succumb to those thoughts and continued to work. 

“I'm in a good place now,” stated Bauman. “Occasionally you have those doubts but it's about how you move past them. I've played enough football and have been around here long enough to know I'm built for this and I can rely on my work that I've put in." 

If Bauman’s situation has a positive aspect, it’s that he knows he can essentially get through anything. Football might not have gone according to plan to this point, but the game ends for everyone, and whenever that time comes for Bauman, there is little doubt he’ll be prepared to handle whatever comes his way. 

“It’s been a rollercoaster,” Bauman explained. “It’s been a big time of growth. I’ve learned a lot about myself as a person, as a football player, as a brother, a son, a friend, boyfriend. All these things about myself. It's been a big time of growth.

“I’ve obviously missed this game, but in those two years, I’ve put my whole life into rehab and getting this knee healthy. Still improving as much as I can mentally. All these different things. Strength training. Rehab. It's been a roller coaster. I miss being out there. It's crazy." 

The decision to return to Notre Dame in 2024 wasn’t a given, but the ball was in Bauman’s court. It also wasn’t an easy decision as he weighed all his options, yet at the end of the day, Bauman wanted another shot. 

"I took a few days away,” said Bauman. “Coach Freeman was great. Right after it happened, I met with him right around this time last year. He was extremely supportive. All of my coaches were extremely supportive of me taking some time away. My parents came down here and I was able to sit down over a few days and talk to them, kind of weigh out pros and cons of everything.

“There is a lot more that I want to accomplish here. What it came down to was when I’m done here, I want to have no regrets. However my time here comes to an end, however my time playing football comes to an end, I want to be able to say for the rest of my life that I gave it everything I could. I love this university. I love these guys. It’s a blessing to be back. I just want to make sure I have no regrets." 

Bauman has gone from a younger player to a seasoned vet despite essentially missing two seasons and it’s a role he’s come to embrace. 

The Notre Dame tight end room is as talented as ever, and Bauman is now in charge of making sure the high standards are met. 

“We have an incredible group,” Bauman said. “We have a bunch of guys who have played a lot of football, which is great. There is a certain maturity that comes with age. Just being here, being around the program, being around a place like this where the culture is so defined, we have a great group of guys who all buy into the same thing.

“I think of myself as a leader of the group, but we all collectively are great leaders. It takes all of us in this group. I get it, it's an interesting dynamic, but we have a great group here so we make it work."

Another change for Bauman is Mike Denbrock entering the room. Tight end coach has been a revolving door as of late, but Denbrock will look to provide some stability to the room and Bauman believes having the offensive coordinator as his position coach is a significant advantage. 

“He's in charge of the offense and he's also in charge of us,” stated Bauman. “It's a great dynamic knowing we kind of get a sneak peak of things that are going in the game plan. He wants to get us the ball, which is great, and he has all the power to do that." 

Bauman will now look to stay healthy and look to get the program over the hump this fall. 

“I have full confidence in my ability, my training, my work ethic and all these things, the athlete and player I am,” said Bauman. Really, I just want to stay healthy. I have confidence in myself to go out there and perform alongside some great tight ends in a great offense on a great team. My goal is to stay healthy. We got a great plan set up to stay healthy. We'll go from there." 

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