Spring Position Battles: Tight End
After some injuries slowed down his development earlier in his career, Durham Smythe had a healthy 2017 as a 5th year senior and had a strong season. His in-line blocking improved tremendously and, despite some struggles at the quarterback position, Smythe managed to become a threat as a receiver (16.3 yards per reception).
All of that helped set him up to be invited to the Senior Bowl and the NFL Combine. He’s now projected to be the fifth Irish tight end selected in the NFL Draft since 2011. That’s why they call Notre Dame Tight End U.
#TEU now has to find a new lead dog at the position with Smythe gone. And although Smythe was a good player for the Irish, I’m sure Chip Long will be hoping for even stronger player from the position in 2018.
There are more than a few talented candidates in line to replace Smythe, but out of that group, there isn’t a clear front-runner. That should change after the spring with a hotly contested internal competition.
Alize Mack
This is Mack’s third spring in the program and it’s easily the most important one in his college career. In 2016 it looked like he was ready to breakout, but academics held him back from playing that season. Then last year he finally had a chance at a bigger role, but had some issues with drops.
He has taken a nice step forward with his blocking from when he first arrived on campus. He’ll need to continue that to be the guy who runs out in all of the single tight end sets this year. He was also suspended for the Citrus Bowl as well, so it’s pretty much guaranteed that nothing will be handed to him this spring.
Mack needs to be more than the guy who flashes. He needs to show consistency in every aspect of his game to emerge as the starter at tight end.
Nic Weishar
A bit of a forgotten man because he has not been targeted much during his three years on the field, Weishar has grown into a solid number two as a blocker. No one will confuse him with Mark Bavaro when it comes to handling defensive ends, but Weishar has held his own the majority of the time in the run game.
For that reason, he might have an edge in earning more time. He is more of a known commodity than the others competing. However, Mack and the others have a higher ceiling as pass-catching options. That may relegate Weishar to being a second or third at the position unless he surprises everyone this spring.
Cole Kmet
This is the player that most Notre Dame fans should be excited about heading into spring. No one has a better chance at emerging to be a star than him. He showed flashes as receiver and blocker in limited opportunities. He may be the most talented all-around tight end for the Irish since Kyle Rudolph.
Can he make the leap this spring? Will the fact that he is playing baseball at the same time hurt his chances to compete to be the starter right now? Playing another sport didn’t hurt other Notre Dame players in the past from becoming great, so I don’t see it stopping Kmet if he is the best player at the position.
Brock Wright
Wright only played in short yardage situations for the most part last season. He was effective in the role he was asked to play. That and what he showed as a prospect in high school should have Irish fans excited about his potential to make a significant impact as a blocker.
Will he be able to show more than that this spring? If he’s healthy, then he’ll need to as a receiver. If he hasn’t fully recovered from shoulder surgery that forced him to miss the Citrus Bowl, then he’ll have to wait until the summer to insert himself into the mix at the position.
George Takacs
Takacs is an early enrollee and I wouldn’t expect him to compete to be the starter this early in his career. He still has some important development to do physically. Getting him on campus early may help him see the field this fall, but it will be tough for him to impress in what I expect to be limited reps in the spring.