Think for a second about how Notre Dame has become Tight End U in the last few decades. Just tracking the position from now to the late 80’s is remarkable in a way to do.
In a few weeks Cole Kmet will join Alize Mack, Durham Smythe, Ben Koyack, Troy Niklas, Tyler Eifert, Kyle Rudolph, John Carlson, Anthony Fasano, Jerome Collins, Josh Owens, Jabari Holloway, Dan O’Leary, Pete Chryplewicz, Irv Smith and Derek Brown as the 15th different Notre Dame tight end to be drafted since 1992. On average, every other year has seen a Notre Dame tight end get drafted in that time. So let’s examine that last name listed a bit as he turns 50 today.
It’s not that great tight ends weren’t a thing before Derek Brown joined Lou Holtz and the Fighting Irish in 1988, but the high level of performance at the position wasn’t as steady as it is now. More on that later, let’s focus on Brown, the birthday boy, for now.
Derek Brown’s numbers at Notre Dame look rather pedestrian by today’s standards, having pulled down 62 receptions in four seasons. Eight of those receptions wound up being touchdowns while he totaled 899 yards along the way, 71 of which came against West Virginia to clinch the ’88 national title.
He was also very key in helping run an offense that required tight ends that were willing to throw their body around and get physical, something his career stats don’t show.
With Brown turning 50 today I looked up any stories or information I could find about him. Back in 2013 he did an interview with “Her Loyal Sons” that shares the bizarre feeling he had after winning the ’88 title, why he chose Notre Dame over Miami and plenty on what he’s been up to since leaving football.
Ultimately Brown didn’t prove worth the 14th overall pick, scoring just one touchdown in his NFL career but he did raise the bar significantly for what has since become Tight End U. There were greats before him in the form of Ken MacAfee, Dave Casper and Mark Bavaro but the regularity they came out wasn’t nearly as great, although still impressive.
Those soon to be 15 draft picks at the position in 29 years is insane. For comparisons sake though, in the17 years previous to Brown being drafted by the New York Giants in the first round of the 1992 NFL Draft, five Notre Dame tight ends were drafted. That’s not bad talent at the position but clearly after Brown ended the four year drought of Irish tight ends getting drafted at all, it’s become a regular occurrence.
Happy 50th, Derek Brown!