Tag: Chris Tyree

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

Notre Dame Football: Tony Jones, Jr. Declares for NFL Draft

Jones finishes with 1481 career rush yards at Notre Dame but will forever be remembered by Fighting Irish fans for a reception he had on a late November night in Los Angeles.

Just days after setting the Camping World Bowl record for longest run in game history, Tony Jones, Jr. is hanging up his gold helmet for a final time and heading to the 2020 NFL Draft.

Jones has his most productive season in 2019, rushing for 857 yards and six touchdowns while adding another 104 yards and touchdown in the receiving game.

Jones finishes with 1481 career rush yards at Notre Dame but will forever be remembered by Fighting Irish fans for a reception he had on a late November night in Los Angeles.

Jones is likely fighting an uphill climb to get drafted but does possess a great skill in pass protection.

I would imagine he figures it’s his best chance with a loaded backfield for the Irish next year that includes the new and highly regarded Chris Tyree, Kyren Williams, Jahmir Smith, C’Bo Flemister as well as seniors-to-be Jafar Armstrong and Avery Davis.

Regardless of what happens in the next level of his football career, Tony Jones, Jr. will go down in Fighting Irish lore for years to come.

Watch: Chris Tyree Takes Second Place in Under Armour Fastest Man Competition

You don’t win football games by lining up and running 40 yards straight ahead time after time but in a competition this is promising for a player who has plenty of film that shows he’s more than just a sprinter in shoulder pads.

If you’ve heard Brian Kelly in recent days he’s mentioned he believes Notre Dame can take another step still in terms of their recruiting.  He pretty much has stated that they’re in a really good place but can still take it a step further.

One place where they improved recruiting this most recent class was at the running back position where they were able to sign Chris Tyree of Chester, Virginia, the highest rated running back to choose Notre Dame during Kelly’s tenure.

Tyree is participating in the Under Armour All-American Game this Thursday in Orlando where he was selected to be a game captain.

In preparation for Thursday’s event practices have been taking place in Orlando as day two (Monday, 12/30) brought about the annual fastest man competition.

Tyree didn’t disappoint, finishing second by a nose to Arian Smith, a future Georgia Bulldog.

You don’t win football games by lining up and running 40 yards straight ahead time after time but in a competition this is promising for a player who has plenty of film that shows he’s more than just a sprinter in shoulder pads.

Rivals Recruiting Director Mike Farrell went as far to call Tyree an immediate impact for Notre Dame.

Practices continue Tuesday before Thursday’s game at the same venue Notre Dame just got done beating Iowa State in.

Notre Dame Football: Irish Kept Top Tight End Commit As Two Powerhouses Swarmed Late

After Chip Long was let go we have learned from Tom Loy at 247Sports that both Michigan and Penn State checked in on then-commit, tight end Michael Mayer  (Covington Catholic, Alexandria, KY) ahead of signing day.

When Chip Long was relieved of his offensive coordinator duties in early December there was a small window between his firing and the early signing period taking place.

We all know now that Notre Dame not only kept the entire anticipated class in place but actually added an extra player when corner back Ramon Henderson from Bakersfield, California committed.

The wound up that way but not by the choice of a couple Mid-west powerhouses.

After Chip Long was let go we have learned from Tom Loy at 247Sports that both Michigan and Penn State checked in on then-commit, tight end Michael Mayer  (Covington Catholic, Alexandria, KY) ahead of signing day.

“Michigan was big-time on me. Coach Sherron Moore, the tight ends coach,” said Mayer, when asked who reached out when Long was fired. “Penn State reached out. Kentucky too. Penn State was my No. 2 school and I had a great relationship with coach Bowen” – Michael Mayer to 247Sports

It’s worth checking out the article (linked above) to the 247Sports/Irish Illustrated piece.  In it Mayer discusses what he thinks Chris Tyree so special, why he stayed loyal to Notre Dame and why he didn’t push things back until February’s signing period.

247Sports rated Mayer, Kentucky’s High School Player of the Year this past fall and a four-star prospect as the second best tight end in the 2020 recruiting class.

Notre Dame Football: 5-Star RB Chris Tyree Signs with Irish

An easy way to see how big of signing a player can be is by looking at other schools to offer them and as Tyree’s list includes but is not limited to the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State, its easy to see good of player he is.

Perhaps the biggest name of the day to sign a letter of intent for Notre Dame has officially done so as Chris Tyree is officially a member of Notre Dame’s 2020 recruiting haul.

Tyree is a speedy, shifty all-purpose back that comes with a five-star grade from 247Sports and ranked as the 25th highest player nationwide in this 2020 class.

An easy way to see how big of signing a player can be is by looking at other schools to offer them and as Tyree’s list includes but is not limited to the likes of Alabama, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio State and Penn State, its easy to see good of player he is.

Running backs coach Lance Taylor and former offensive coordinator Chip Long hit a long home run with this signing.

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Tyree enters Notre Dame as the most coveted recruit at running back since perhaps Julius Jones.  It’s feels safe to say if you aren’t already familiar with his work that you’ll quickly become familiar with what the captain of the Under Armour All-American Game has to offer.

Tyree is scheduled to enroll in June of 2020.

You can find a fantastic write up on Tyree here.

Notre Dame Football: Never Fear, Tyree Will Be Here

Tyree is ranked by 247Sports to be the No. 1 overall all-purpose back nationally and 25th best player nationally in the 2020 class.

Whenever you shuffle a coaching staff you wonder if it’ll effect recruiting efforts, especially if you’re replacing your offensive coordinator who was helping recruit one of the most sought after running backs in the nation.

Never fear Notre Dame fans: Chris Tyree is 100% on board with his commitment and plans to sign on day one of the Early Signing Period which comes next Wednesday.

Tom Loy of 247Sports had the full report and recap which can be found here. You can find out when Tyree will be enrolling if you click there and be able to read a few quotes from the future Notre Dame back.

Brian Kelly, Lance Taylor (RB), DelVaughn Alexander (WR) and Brian Polian (ST) all joined in on the trip to Chester, Virginia.

Tyree is ranked by 247Sports to be the No. 1 overall all-purpose back nationally and 25th best player nationally in the 2020 class.