Notre Dame’s coaching staff didn’t hide the impact Cooper Flanagan’s return to the field would have during fall camp.
Head coach Marcus Freeman and offensive coordinator/tight ends coach Mike Denbrock called the senior tight end an ‘Alpha’ and Flanagan hasn’t disappointed through Notre Dame’s first two games.
The 6-foot-6, 255-pounder has helped Notre Dame’s short-yardage game thrive, and that work led to his first touchdown reception of the season against Rice.
In fact, Rice’s defense was so focused on Notre Dame running the ball at the goal line that Flanagan didn’t have a defender within 10 yards of him, making the catch a little more difficult than it looked.
“Sometimes it definitely puts a little pressure,” laughed Flanagan. “I definitely expected to be open. I think that just is a credit to the team, the O-line, and how well we block and run the ball. I think that is kind of a whole credit to the O-line and the tight ends, the whole offense.”
Notre Dame’s offense is off to a hot start, averaging 46.5 points per game through the first two weeks of the 2026 season.
The Irish aren’t satisfied.
It starts with quarterback CJ Carr reminding the offense that there is still plenty of work to do.
“CJ (said) today in the huddle before practice, there’s no secret to having a great football team,” Flanagan stated. “It’s the work you put in throughout the week. I think every Monday, when we start back up, it needs to be a new week. You reset and you need to put your head down and just work and try to get better every week. Try to be a better football team than the week before.”
It’s a mature approach, but it also shouldn’t be surprising given Freeman’s praise for how Notre Dame has handled its business through the first two weeks of the season.
The Irish are an older team and Flanagan believes that experience is showing in the way his teammates approach each week.
“The first thing that comes to mind would be routine,” Flanagan said of Freeman’s maturity comments. “This year has been a big year for me and it comes with watching film, how you take care of your body, focusing on the little details of the offense and just your game. I think that’s what maturity really means to me.”
In addition to maturity, the California native believes that Notre Dame has leadership coming from every corner of the locker room.
“It’s my fourth year and I’ve gotten to see a handful of guys like Jack Kiser, JD Bertrand, Joe Alt, Sam Hartman, wise guys who had a very mature presence.
“This year, just the sheer amount of guys that aren’t necessarily captains but lead by example. There are vocal leaders all over the team. That shows best how mature this team is, just the amount of dudes who step up and lead.”
Flanagan is one of those players.
As one of the veterans in the tight end room, he has taken on a larger vocal leadership role and understands that sometimes the best thing he can do is bring energy to his teammates.
“I've been telling the guys a lot that I love them, appreciate them,” stated Flanagan. “Just trying to rally the guys up whenever we're feeling low or maybe low energy. I'm not perfect with that. Sometimes I need it as well. But just kind of trying to be out there and just talk to the guys.”
That leadership has been especially important this week as Notre Dame looks to jump-start its run game.
The Irish have been efficient offensively, but the running game hasn’t yet reached the level the team expects. Flanagan believes the answer is simple. More work.
“I think it just starts with practice and the work we put in,” Flanagan explained. “Just trying to be detailed and getting better every week. We had a couple tight ends stay after practice to work on footwork and meeting with the o-line extra, watching film after practice as a unit, just trying to get better every week.”
The Irish have been efficient, but the offense knows there is more there and Flanagan believes it’s just a matter of time.
“Some games, sometimes the pass game is working well, so maybe you stick with that,” said Flanagan. “I’m not the OC, but I have full trust and full belief in our tight ends and the physicality that we bring.
“The stuff we put on tape in the summer and then practice and the way we’ve been able to run the ball and even the receivers coming in and blocking their asses off, I have full belief in the unit.”
Want the latest scoop on Notre Dame Football and Recruiting? Sign up for our newsletter and become an ISD Premium Subscriber: Sign Up for ISD
Notre Dame Fighting Irish Under Armour Core Icon Fleece Pullover Hoodie
