2020 TE Commit Michael Mayer Excited For Next Steps

With his junior season of football behind him, Michael Mayer‍ is on to basketball.

“Everything is going well,” the 2020 Notre Dame tight end commit said. “It’s keeping me in shape. It’s great. I’ve always played basketball just like football.

“I’m about 235 right now. I’m trying to stay around that weight. I’ll get a little bit bigger in the offseason after basketball and work on my speed and stuff like that.”

The Covington Catholic (Ky.) High School product believes staying active is a benefit for when football does come back around.

“Any sport really helps you in football,” he said. “Other than staying in shape, if you can understand basketball, I think it helps you understand football as well. It also helps you with your overall athleticism too and stuff like that.

“I think it really translates over with your hands. In football, you need to be able to catch. Basketball is a game of hand-eye coordination and being able to catch, so that obviously helps too.”

Mayer is excited about the 2020 class taking center stage with the majority of the 2019 group having signed.

“It’s awesome,” he said. “There’s just overall excitement. Obviously, we’ve got a little while before we get there, but I’m looking forward to it. I’m really pumped about this 2020 class, the next class up.”

Mayer said he texts with his fellow 2020 Irish pledges Drew Pyne and Kevin Bauman multiple times a week.

“We’re pretty close and hopefully all three of us will get to go up there sometime in the spring or summer to hang out,” he said. “I’m just looking forward to meeting them and becoming really good friends, which we are already.”

Mayer starred on offense and defense for Covington Catholic last fall.

“I can’t even imagine playing football and just playing one way,” said Mayer, who also played linebacker. “It’s awesome. It’s so fun. You never come off the field. You’re always on the field in practice too. It helps me get in shape more. It’s just awesome.”

The 6-foot-5 Mayer is looking forward to getting into offseason workouts after basketball.

“Last season, I had the strength at 240, but I think one thing I need to work on this offseason is being able to be 240, 245 and work on my speed. Maybe I didn’t have as much speed as I wanted to last season, but I can be the same weight and have some more speed this season.”

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