Tag: Chris Tyree

Watch: Notre Dame Signee Surfs to Celebrate High School Graduation

Aidan Keannaina will begin a nice career with Notre Dame in the fall. At least it should be.

Aidan Keannaina will begin a nice career with Notre Dame in the fall. At least it should be. The 6-foot-3, 300-pound defensive tackle is one the highest ranked recruits in Colorado. In January, he played in the Polynesian Bowl with fellow Irish commits Tosh Baker, Kevin Bauman, Michael Carmody and Chris Tyree.

Before hitting the gridiron in South Bend, however, Keanaaina had to graduate from high school. Like every other student taking the next step in life this year, he needed to mark the occasion in his own fashion. Though Colorado is known for its mountains, Keannaina has Hawaiian blood, so there only was one way he could celebrate. That was by wakeboarding in full cap and gown and taking his graduation garb off while doing it.

If anyone had doubts about Keanaaina’s athleticism, this should dispel it all. The kid is quite coordinated, and that will make life easier for Mike Elston and the defensive line he coaches. It’s doubtful the Irish will be staging a team surfing competition anytime soon, but they’ve got a clear favorite if it happens after all.

Great Forecast Given for Incoming Notre Dame Freshman RB Chris Tyree

Bryan Driskell, publisher of Sports Illustrated’s Irish Breakdown site, has written a lot about Notre Dame since 2014.

Bryan Driskell, publisher of Sports Illustrated’s Irish Breakdown site and football analyst for Blue and Gold Illustrated, has written a lot about Notre Dame since 2014. He also coached college football for a decade. The man knows talent when he sees it, and he thinks he’s found it with one of the Irish’s newest players.

Driskell has written about incoming Notre Dame freshman running back Chris Tyree. For a long time, the Irish have lacked someone in the backfield with game-changing speed, and Driskell thinks they’ve found that player in Tyree. This shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone who’s kept up with Notre Dame’s recruiting for the Class of 2024.

Though Driskell doesn’t anticipate that Tyree will start or even get the majority of carries right away, he advocates for Tyree to not only play this fall, but get seven to 10 touches in each game. He figures it’s the best way for Tyree to foster his game, even as he’s coming off an injury-plagued senior season in high school.

The idea of a Notre Dame running back being automatic seems ludicrous to longtime fans. That Tyree might be the one to change that generates excitement. The pressure is on the coaching staff to develop this kid the right way. Whether they actually do it will be a burning question for some time.

Irish Overrated? CBS Gives Thoughts on Notre Dame’s ’20 Season Outlook

In a season series preview, CBS Sports looks at what is in store for the Irish this season.

The fact that Brian Kelly seems to falter against top teams is fair, since 2010 he has led the Irish to a 21-20 record in Top 25 matchups. So, Ben Kercheval’s assessment of that portion of the program is accurate, but that is in the past, this is about what is in store for the Irish in 2020.

There were multiple high-level players who left the Notre Dame program since it’s win over Iowa State in the Camping World Bowl just a few months ago. Kercheval feels like the biggest losses include TE Cole Kmet, WR Chase Claypool, RB Tony Jones Jr. and DE Julian Okwara. Each of them have brought their talents to the NFL.

What’s interesting is the fact that Kercheval mentions the firing of Offensive Coordinator Chip Long as a loss. Long was replaced by Tommy Rees prior to the bowl win, was seen as a excellent recruiter, but Kelly couldn’t mesh well with his play calling, especially in the aforementioned top matchups. While the offense under Rees was fantastic in Irish wins, averaging 38 points, the fact that Long couldn’t get more, 13.5 points per game, in losses irked Kelly and let to a change. The jury is still out on Rees, this season will be a big test for the first full year as offensive coordinator for the former Irish QB.

We all know about the returning Notre Dame stars, Kercheval sees QB Ian Book, OT Tommy Kraemer and WR Braden Lenzy as the offenses top returning playmakers. Pretty interesting that the other starting tackle, Liam Eichenberg isn’t mentioned, but Lenzy to me is the key. The leading returning receiver had just 11 catches last year, a number that will surely see a rise this coming season. The rising junior needs to break out for the Irish offense.

Defensively CB TaRiq Bracy and DE Daelin Hayes will be the key assets according to Kercheval. I think he didn’t pick the right players as Notre Dame’s key returning defenders. Safety Kyle Hamilton and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah would have been my choices. It’s not a knock on Bracy and Hayes, they’re great players in their own right, I just believe that Hamilton and Owusu-Koramoah will have larger impacts.

Rees was named a fresh face, along with Northwestern WR transfer Bennett Skowronek and incoming freshman RB Chris Tyree. Spot on with Tyree, as the newest face to the Irish running back room might be needed to contribute immediately. Skowronek was a captain for the Wildcats last year, bring leadership to a position group that will need it. There are plenty of others that could have ended up in these spots include transfers safety Isaiah Pryor and CB Nick McCloud or freshman TE Michael Mayer. Each of them could play big roles for the Irish in ’20.

Kercheval sees the floor as 9 wins for the Irish, otherwise disappointment will reign in South Bend. A favorable schedule should result in double digits wins, so Kelly’s streak of 3 straight 10-plus win seasons should extent to a 4th once the season is played.

Which Notre Dame True Freshman Steps Up and Contributes Immediately?

Which offensive true freshman will step up for Notre Dame and play a big part in the 2020 season?

Every year you expect a freshman to arrive onto campus, make an impact right away and contribute to the team. Last year it was safety Kyle Hamilton, exploding onto the national scene, becoming a Freshman All-American, and setting himself up for a huge second season in South Bend.

Yesterday, not only did Brian Kelly speak on raising money for COVID-19 during “The Fight,” but he also had a chance to speak about the upcoming season. Kelly was pretty positive that “a true freshman will emerge and play significant time on both sides of the ball.”

This past year’s recruiting class for Notre Dame had a total of 17 players, which was good for 17th overall in a nation according to the 247Sports composite. There were plenty of good players which signed with the Irish and Brian Kelly will have to figure out which ones can see the field early. Today, we will look at some of the offensive freshman that could make an impact.

Tight End Michael Mayer

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Mayer is the lone five-star prospect in the class, but even if he wasn’t there would be an opportunity for the Kentucky native to see playing time early. Gone is Cole Kmet, drafted in the second round by the Chicago Bears, and in comes the 6’4” and 232-pound Mayer as his potential replacement. Mayer will have to battle upper-classmen Brock Wright, George Takacs and Tommy Tremble for playing time, but he should be able to crack the rotation due to his impressive skill set.

Running Back Chris Tyree

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The speedster out of Virginia fills an immediate need, gamebreaker in the backfield. With Tony Jones Jr. using up all his eligibility, the opportunity for Tyree to make an impact early is there. Tyree’s size at 5’10” and 180-pounds won’t allow him to be a 20 carry a game back, but 10-15 touches a game for the freshman seems very logical. Like Mayer, the depth chart is in Tyree’s favor, with Jones Jr. leaving no other back on the team registered more than 48 carries, so playing time is there. I expect to see Jahmir Smith as the starter, but Tyree should be a good change of pace back and see plenty of time on the field as a true freshman.

Offensive Lineman Tosh Baker and Michael Carmody

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The offensive line isn’t a need for an instant impact freshman, every starter returns from last years squad, but the need is looking towards the future. Six seniors will graduate from the offensive line next year, although three of them could return for a 5th year, the need is still there for the future of the program. Getting Baker (6’7” and 271-pounds) and Carmody (6’5” and 283-pounds) ample playing time would be ideal, especially considering the Irish will be breaking in a new starting quarterback in 2021. Having an offensive line that can give a first year starting QB plenty of time would make the transition much easier.

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These are just a few of the talented offensive freshman that could make an impact early in their Notre Dame careers. Tomorrow we will take a look at which freshman defensive stars could emerge for the Irish during the 2020 season.

Notre Dame Football: Is Another Grad-Transfer in the Cards?

Notre Dame has added three grad-transfers ahead of the 2020 season. Could another still be on the way? Find out who that might just be.

Notre Dame has done a phenomenal job re-working their roster for 2020 by adding graduate-transfers who are eligible to play right away.

Isaiah Pryor, a former top-100 recruit to Ohio State figures to challenge for a starting safety spot while Bennett Skowronek, formerly of Northwestern should help in at least trying to replace Chase Claypool.

Yesterday it was former North Carolina State corner-back Nick McCloud committing to Notre Dame in 2020 as he figures to challenge for a starting spot immediately.

Is that it for Notre Dame in terms of grad-transfers and essentially rebuilding on the fly?  Not so fast.

Running back Trevor Speights, a Stanford graduate remains looking for a new home and has already listed Notre Dame as a finalist along with Rice.

Notre Dame isn’t in awful shape at running back but depth and certaintities are few and far between.  When you have that then its the more able-bodies the better.

Jafar Armstrong, Jahmir Smith and C’Blo Flemister figure to be in the running for playing time but there are plenty of questions about if any of those three can be a load type back.  Chris Tyree is a great recruiting win as well but figures to need to put on some weight and strength before he becomes a major player.

As it sits right now Notre Dame has 88 scholarships committed to the 2020 squad and will have to get 85 before the season kicks off, whenever that might actually be.

New Notre Dame Duo Among Sports Illustrated’s Top Ten

I really want there to be a college football version of NBA JAM now.  

In an almost NBA Jam style discussion, Sports Illustrated rated the ten best quarterback and running back duos that have signed their letters of intent this winter.  It simply takes who they think are the ten best, not putting them in any order 1-10.

Notre Dame was represented as quarterback Drew Pyne and running back Chris Tyree drew praise.

Pyne looks like the immediate depth the Irish needs at the quarterback position coming off of a prep career in which he tallied 125 total scores (20 rushing) as a four-year starter. Tyree is one of the fastest and quickest incoming players at any position when healthy. Don’t let either undersized talent fool you heading into their time in South Bend.

The only real takeaways I have from this list are three things:

  1. The most-elite programs mostly make up this list with Clemson, Ohio State, Alabama, Georgia, Texas, Texas A&M and Oregon appear on it.  The only surprises really are Tennessee and South Carolina.
  2. This is built a lot on repuatation and Notre Dame appearing on the list speaks highly of how the Fighting Irish are at least preceived in that regard.
  3. I really want there to be a college football version of NBA JAM now.

On that last point, what would Notre Dame’s most-lethal pairing of a quarterback and running back be all-time?

Mirer and Bettis or Brooks in the early-nineties?

Tony Rice and Ricky Watters?

Brady Quinn and Darius Walker?

ESPN Names Notre Dame’s 2020 Breakout Player

ESPN has weighed in on the 2020 college football season releasing their version of the “way too early rankings” where Notre Dame checked in at number ten.

Incoming freshman Chris Tyree is as anticipated of running back that Notre Dame has successfully signed since Brian Kelly took over as head coach after the 2009 season.  The look for a running back with this amout of hype may go even years beyond that as some have said he’s the most exciting running back since Julius Jones made his arrival to South Bend decades ago.

ESPN has weighed in on the 2020 college football season releasing their version of the “way too early rankings” where Notre Dame checked in at number ten.

This week ESPN named the “2020 Breakout Player” for those 25 teams and Tyree took the honor for Notre Dame.  Here is what ESPN had to say about the Chester, Virginia native and why they’re so high on him:

Notre Dame’s leading rusher, Tony Jones, is off to the NFL, and the Irish don’t have any running backs on the roster who ran for more than 200 yards last season. The running back room needed a boost anyway, and it’s going to get it from Tyree, an ESPN 300 recruit in this 2020 class. Tyree is shifty, elusive and versatile, and he has speed that this offense could use early on. He has a very good shot to come in, earn playing time and make a big impact in this offense. — VanHaaren

Tyree was listed as the top all-purpose back in the 2020 recruiting class by 247Sports and shined at the Under Armour All-American Bowl earlier this month.  With an offense that has been largely dependent on being able to run the football and throw to backs like Notre Dame has in recent years it’s easy to see why they chose Tyree.

Who to you will be the breakout talent for Notre Dame in 2020 that must have a big year in order for the Irish to return to the College Football Playoff?

 

Notre Dame Football: Another Visit Planned for Top Running Back Target

Taylor was only a hired last January but already made an impact, perhaps the biggest way being in bringing in talent to the running back position that hasn’t been seen in the Brian Kelly era.

The less-discussed news of Tuesday’s coaching moves at Notre Dame was that running backs coach Lance Taylor had been promoted to run game coordinator.

Taylor was only a hired last January but already made an impact, perhaps the biggest way being in bringing in talent to the running back position that hasn’t been seen in the Brian Kelly era.

Chris Tyree signed his letter of intent in December and was immediately the highest ranked running back to choose Notre Dame in Kelly’s now decade on the job.  Fast-forward a month and the Irish and Taylor specifically, appear set on getting a commitment from another highly-couveted all purpose back.

According to a Mike Singer report at Blue Gold Illustrated, Taylor will be in North Carolina on Friday when the recruiting dead period is lifted and is expected to make a visit to see Will Shipley, the nation’s number-one all purpose back in 2021.

Taylor has already met face-to-face with Shipley five times according to the same report, most of those meetings coming in North Carolina.

Shipley is listed at 6-1, 220 pounds and was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in North Carolina after a junior season that saw him rush for more than 2000 yards and 30 touchdowns while hauling in 582 receiving yards and eight more scores by reception.  It all led to Weddington’s second-straight state championship.

Will Shipley may not choose Notre Dame ultimately but it won’t be because of a lack of an effort by Lance Taylor.

Watch: Tyree and Pyne Shine in Under Armour All-American Game as Notre Dame Future Looks Bright

At the end of the day it’s just an All-Star game but if you’re a Notre Dame fan that has been waiting for some next-level type talents, especially in terms of speed, you can’t help but get excited about what you saw in Orlando tonight.

Much of the talk this week in Orlando in regards to Notre Dame has been about running Chris Tyree and understandably so.

Tyree is the highest rated running back to choose Notre Dame in what seems like ages and he kept making headlines as he was a captain, the second fastest man and the winner of the shuttle competition between players.

Tyree wasn’t the only future Fighting Irish offensive player to turn heads during the week however as quarterback Drew Pyne of New Canaan, Connecticut did well for himself, too.

Pyne and Tyree teamed up with future Irish long-snapper Alex Pietsch on the Savage team in Thursday’s Under Armour All-American game and gave Irish fans everywhere reasons to get excited.

Pyne finished the night 9 for 11 passing for 124 yards, highlighted by a 42 yard touchdown pass to Ohio State-bound Julian Fleming.

Pyne’s Notre Dame teammate Chris Tyree didn’t let his big week go without one last flash either, scoring on a one yard run in the game on a hand-off from none other than Tyree.

At the end of the day it’s just an All-Star game but if you’re a Notre Dame fan that has been waiting for some next-level type talents, especially in terms of speed, you can’t help but get excited about what you saw in Orlando tonight.

240 days until Notre Dame vs. Navy in Ireland in case you were wondering.

How to Watch: 2020 Under Armour All-American Game Featuring Three Notre Dame Signees

Chris Tyree, the No. 1 rated all-purpose back in the nation according to 247Sports will serve as a captain for the “Savage” team.  Tyree was the first-runner-up in the fastest man competition at practices this week.

Right out of the shoot in the new year many of us get a chance to watch some of the future stars of college football in live game-action for the first time as high school all-star games begin taking place.

Saturday will bring us the All-American Game (formerly sponsored by the US Army) that will feature four future Golden Domers.

Thursday night however offers a chance to watch a couple future members of the Notre Dame offense as they’ll be on display in the 2020 Under Armour All-American Game.

Chris Tyree, the No. 1 rated all-purpose back in the nation according to 247Sports will serve as a captain for the “Savage” team.  Tyree was the first-runner-up in the fastest man competition at practices this week.

No. 7 pro-style quarterback Drew Pyne will also play for team Savage.

The final Notre Dame signee who is also a savage, at least on Thursday night is Alex Peitsch who has been graded by some as the best high school long-snapper in the country this past fall.

You can watch all three in action as well as plenty of other future college stars as the Under Armour All-American Game will air:

Date – Thursday, January 2
Time – 6:00 pm E.T.
TV – ESPN2
Venue – Camping World Stadium, Orlando, FL