Weishar Excited About TE Room

There isn’t a lack of talent in the Notre Dame tight end room heading into 2018. The Irish return a wealth of riches that offensive coordinator and tight ends coach Chip Long is more than excited to use this fall. 

“We have some good veteran guys,” stated Long. “Nic Weishar and Alizè Mack have played a lot of football. Cole Kmet is going to be a big-time player, and his knowledge of the offense is at a high level.

“It’s a good nucleus. The hot hand will probably play more, but it’s a long season. They have to take care of each other. We’re in 12 personnel most of the time, so we'll go through them quite a bit.”

Every tight end perks up when ’12 personnel’ is mentioned and Weishar is no different. 


The 6-foot-4, 246-pounder is back for his fifth season and will look to build on his 15 career catches for 118 yards and two scores, but he’ll also be juggling a Master’s program. 

“I’m in the MBA classes from now until October” explained Weishar. “I’m taking three but then October to December I’ll be taking two. It’ll be tough but nothing I haven’t done before.”

The chance to get into two and three tight end sets starts with the emergence of Mack and Weishar was open about the progress his teammate has made since sitting out in 2016. 

“He’s changed the way he thinks about the little things,” said Weishar. “Earlier in his career, he was showing up late or right on time to meetings or workouts. The last few years, he insists on coming early. He’ll show up an hour early, and he’s always there early. It’s a very important aspect I think he’s grown in. 

“It may seem little, but it’s carried over from one little thing to the next little thing.” 

Mack and Weishar have focused on making the most of practice reps, which has translated into plays on Saturday.

“A lot of that comes in practice making plays,” Weishar stated. “If you’re not making plays in practice, you’re not going to make them in games. Making plays in practice and carrying it over to games is something for me too.” 

Mack and Weishar will be counted on to produce on Saturday, but also to help bring along sophomore Cole Kmet. 

“He’s a freakish athlete,” Weishar stated. “He’s a coachable kid. He’s a sophomore, but he see’s what Alizè and I do then put it to the test when he goes out there too. He’s big and strong. He’s able to do things Alizè and I can’t. Hopefully, he can build on that and have a breakout year.”