Tag: 83nation

Chase Claypool Pens Heartfelt Goodbye to Notre Dame Community

I don’t anticipate he’ll be knocking down the first round door but he’s going to bring a playmaking ability to someone at the next level for likely some great value.

It may not be the most prestigious award around but I’m sure Chase Claypool will be pleased to know he’s been named Fighting Irish Wire’s inaugural Man I’m Gonna Miss the Hell Outta Watching That Guy Each Saturday Award.

Myself and Jeff Feyerer decided that weeks ago but I’m finally getting around to letting the masses know on here.

Tuesday afternoon the NFL-bound Claypool offered a kind farewell to the Notre Dame family and everyone who made his career in South Bend possible.

In a class loaded with wide receiver talent I’m incredibly curious around what number Claypool will get selected at. He may not have truly elite speed but has unreal size and GUAGI (Go-Up-And-Get-It, h/t Matt Spiegel).

I don’t anticipate he’ll be knocking down the first round door but he’s going to bring a playmaking ability to someone at the next level for likely some great value.

Side note – he’s also a decent downfield blocker if any NFL GM needs another reason to be interested.

Notre Dame Football: Chase Claypool Named Team MVP

There are cases you could make for perhaps Ian Book or Cole Kmet but what it keeps coming down to for me – when a play absolutely needed to be made – who was asked to make it and delivered the most?

Whenever there was a big play needed in 2019 it felt like you knew where Ian Book and Notre Dame were going with the football.

Find Chase Claypool and let the 6’4” wide receiver make a play.

And seemingly every time he was called upon he answered.

That’s why on Friday night at Echoes, the 2019 Notre Dame Awards Show, Claypool was named team-MVP.

There are cases you could make for perhaps Ian Book or Cole Kmet but what it keeps coming down to for me – when a play absolutely needed to be made – who was asked to make it and delivered the most?

Think of the Virginia Tech game for example.  Before Ian Book’s go-ahead touchdown run, who caught the pass that converted the fourth down to make the touchdown run even possible?

Trailing 3-0 to USC and in the shadow of their own goalposts facing third and seven, who caught the nine yard pass to extend the drive and give the offense some breathing room before eventually marching the rest of the field and taking the lead?

And after a slow start at Stanford in the regular season finale, who was called upon to make the huge touchdown catch just before halftime to put Notre Dame in the lead once and for all?

If you answered Chase Claypool to any of these questions you’re right.

We didn’t even mention his four-touchdown performance against Navy or countless other great showings he had.

So yes, there may have been a case you could make for another player or two, Notre Dame undoubtedly isn’t sniffing 10-2 without Claypool this year.

Watch: Chase Claypool’s Huge Day in Numbers vs. Navy

The four touchdowns on the day brought Claypool’s career total at Notre Dame to 15, which means his four today accounted for 26.6% of his career scores.  His season total also jumped from five to nine (44.4% total).

 

Chase Claypool had a career afternoon at Notre Dame Stadium, going for 117 yards receiving on seven receptions, four of which resulted in touchdowns.

It capped off a big week for Claypool who on Thursday accepted an invitation to participate in January’s Senior Bowl in preparation for the NFL Draft.

He spent Saturday having his best game to date in a Notre Dame uniform.  A few notes about what No. 83 accomplished this afternoon:

Claypool’s four touchdown receptions tie Maurice Stovall for the most-ever in a single game by a Notre Dame receiver.  Stovall accomplished his feat in a 49-23 win over BYU on October 22, 2005.

The four touchdowns on the day brought Claypool’s career total at Notre Dame to 15, which means his four today accounted for 26.6% of his career scores.  His season total also jumped from five to nine (44.4% total).

Claypool’s 47 yard touchdown reception from Ian Book that made the game 14-0 in Notre Dame’s favor was the longest reception his career.

Claypool’s dominating performance also earned him the game-ball from his head coach.

Chase Claypool and the rest of the senior class will play their final game at Notre Dame Stadium next Saturday when they welcome Boston College to town.  The 8-2 Fighting Irish and 5-5 Boston College Eagles will kickoff at 2:30 p.m. ET next Saturday and like all home games, can be seen on NBC.

View a few of Claypool’s touchdown receptions from his record day:

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