Tag: tight end U

Notre Dame football makes top-10 for 2026 5-star tight end Kendre Harrison

The Irish could be adding an elite tight end for their 2026 class

Notre Dame football has long been viewed as [autotag]Tight End U[/autotag], and it could be getting stronger in the coming years.

In the 2025 class, the Irish have 4-star James Flanigan committed and probably won’t add another one. The 2026 class is shaping up to be another impressive group and Notre Dame has been hard at work to do exactly that.

One of those recruits is North Carolina tight end [autotag]Kendre Harrison[/autotag]. The 6-foot, 7-inch and 243-pound prospect narrowed his list to ten schools, with the Irish making the cut. The nations No. 6 overall prospect and top tight end according to the 247Sports Composite Rankings is clearly one of the best in the country.

It won’t be easy for Notre Dame to win this recruiting battle, but as of right now, the Irish are squarely in the mix for Harrison.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on X (Formerly Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Mike on X: @MikeFChen

Social media reacts to Notre Dame’s Davis Sherwood’s touchdown catch

The former linebacker just scored.

Notre Dame has developed a reputation as Tight End U in recent years. But can it also be called Linebacker-Turned-Tight-End U?

That might have to be considered after [autotag]Davis Sherwood[/autotag] scored his first career touchdown in the fourth quarter of the Irish’s game at NC State. Fresh off [autotag]Xavier Watts[/autotag]’ first career interceptions, [autotag]Sam Hartman[/autotag] hit Sherwood for this 10-yard score:

This goes back to the point of Hartman getting a bunch of people involved as the head of the Irish’s offensive scheme. With [autotag]Michael Mayer[/autotag] gone, somebody had to step up as the big tight end at a program that has generated a great many lately. We haven’t found that person yet, but could Sherwood be in the hunt? It would be a great story given that he started his collegiate career on the other side of the ball.

Until we get an answer to that question, enjoy the following tweets about Sherwood’s score. Incidentally, while this was being written, [autotag]Audric Estime[/autotag] scored another touchdown soon after a [autotag]DJ Brown[/autotag] interception. For now though, let’s focus on Sherwood:

Social media reacts to Notre Dame tight end Holden Staes’ touchdown

Tight End U has returned.

As good as [autotag]Sam Hartman[/autotag] has been for Notre Dame thus far, his tight ends haven’t gotten involved. They technically haven’t been needed because the offense has been that good, but you’d still like to see them contribute something. It finally happened just before halftime against Tennessee State.

Fresh off the Tigers’ second unsuccessful field-goal attempt of the first half and with 53 seconds left, Hartman chose to exclusively air it out, mostly to his tight ends, to try and extend a big Irish lead. Six plays and 38 seconds later, he did just that, finding [autotag]Holden Staes[/autotag] for a 4-yard touchdown:

The touchdown was the first of Staes’ collegiate career and his second reception. There’s no telling how much Staes will factor into the rest of the season, but it’s at the very least of reflection of how many backs and receivers Hartman is getting involved. Yes, that includes tight ends.

Here’s what social media said about the score that put the Irish up, 35-3, at the break:

College football recruiting: A top 2025 tight end set to announce commitment

Tight End U!

Could “Tight End U” (that’s Notre Dame for anyone new here) soon be getting their next highly touted prospect at the position?  That’s the hope for Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish as a four-star target they hosted earlier this week has announced his commitment date.

Nate Roberts, a 6-4, 225-pound prospect from Washington, Oklahoma just visited Notre Dame on Tuesday.  On Thursday he announced he’ll be announcing a commitment publicly on Saturday afternoon.

247Sports ranks Roberts as the nation’s No. 55 overall player in 2025 and third-best tight end in the class.  Notre Dame is one of 12 finalists, joining Oregon, Georgia, Baylor, Clemson, Miami, Ohio State, Michigan, Penn State, Oklahoma, Auburn, and Wisconsin.

Notre Dame currently has one commitment in the 2025 class – defensive lineman Davion Dixon of Florida.  Will they soon get No. 2?

We’ll all know Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.

[lawrence-related id=73027,72993,72869,73260]

Commanders Cole Turner attended Tight End U

The Commanders believe Turner is a breakout candidate if he can stay healthy.

[anyclip pubname=”2103″ widgetname=”0016M00002U0B1kQAF_M8036″]

Travis Kelce may go down as the greatest tight end in NFL history when his career is over. George Kittle remains one of the NFL’s best tight ends, while Greg Olsen enjoyed a 14-year NFL career before retiring to become one of football’s top analysts.

In 2021, the trio came together to create to form Tight End University. According to the website, Tight End U was formed “to bring the Tight End community together for an immersive three-day program. Over the course of the summit, attendees can bond, collaborate with, and learn amongst their peers while participating in various activities, including film study, on-field drills, recovery, rehabilitation, and more.”

This week, Tight End U was in session for the third consecutive season, and young Washington tight end Cole Turner was in attendance.

In this video from the NFL, you can see Turner to the left of the screen around 15 seconds in, as Kelce is teaching his fellow tight ends.

We aren’t certain if starter Logan Thomas was in attendance, but he has attended the previous Tight End U sessions.

The Commanders are confident that Thomas bounces back in 2023 because he’s fully healthy. However, the team is really excited about Turner’s potential, especially in new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy’s offense. Turner was one of Washington’s standouts from the offseason program.

It would be interesting to know if Turner had any one-on-one time with Kelce discussing Bieniemy’s offense.

High 4-star Missouri tight end names Notre Dame in final five

The Irish are still in the running for one of the best tight end prospects in 2024

There is an argument to be made for [autotag]Notre Dame[/autotag] in being named [autotag]Tight End U[/autotag].

Since 2018, the Irish have had five players from the position drafted into the NFL, most recently Michael Mayer in the second round to Las Vegas Raiders. One of the multiple talented players on the current roster could be up next this season, but for the future, it very well could be Missouri’s [autotag]Jaden Reddell[/autotag].

The 6-foot, 4-inch and 233 pound tight end named his top five, with the Irish making the cut. Reddell is ranked as the 4th best at his position and 58th overall player according to the 247Sports composite.

In the 2024 recruiting class, the Irish already have a commitment from Jack Larsen but are always looking to add more talent to the position group.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Mike on Twitter: @MikeFChen

Mel Kiper, Jr. releases top 10 tight end rankings for 2023 NFL draft

No. 1 is a no-doubter but No. 2 is quite a suprise!

Consider longtime ESPN NFL draft analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. a fan of former Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer.  Mayer headed the group of tight ends that Kiper calls the 10 best in the 2023 NFL draft.

Kiper said of Mayer:

“NFL teams want tight ends who can stretch the deep middle of the field — and block well enough to line up next to offensive tackles, that’s Mayer, who can be a force in the red zone. Linebackers simply can’t cover him (and safeties struggle with his size). He has a wide catch radius and could produce as a pass-catcher in the NFL. He’s a complete player.”
– Mel Kiper, Jr. (Subscription required)

Mayer declared for the draft following Notre Dame’s regular season finale at USC.  He exits Notre Dame leading all tight ends in program history in nearly every statistical category despite only playing three seasons.

Here is how Kiper ranked the entire top 10 tight ends for the 2023 NFL draft:

 

Mel Kiper, Jr. sends Michael Mayer to NFC East in latest mock draft

Where will Mayer end up?

We’re counting down the days until the NFL draft as we hope to hear Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer have his name called during the first round.  If he does, he’ll become the first Notre Dame tight end to go in the first round since Tyler Eifert was drafted by the Bengals in 2013.

Mel Kiper, Jr. has his latest mock draft out and was on ESPN’s “First Take” to discuss it on Tuesday.  Kiper has Mayer going 26th overall to the Cowboys after Dallas lost Dalton Schultz to the Texans in free agency.  Here is what Kiper had to say about Mayer and America’s Team:

“He’s a throwback to the 70s, 80s, 90s, he can block in-line,” Kiper said on First Take, “he lumbers a bit but you talk about the hands, he’s had focus drops, overall though, he’s been there since his freshman year, putting up big numbers. I think we over-analyze players that have been there since day one… He’s traditional, he’s throwback, he’s a blood and guts football player.

“For them (Dallas), blocking is important, running the football is important. You can’t bring in a Luke Musgrave, or a Dalton Kincaid, and get that blocking ability. Darnell Washington as well could be an in-line guy, but Mayer’s just a little bit better in that area right now. For the complete tight end, the best fit I think is Michael Mayer.”

Mayer set pretty much every possible record for tight ends at Notre Dame in just three seasons.  The 2023 NFL draft takes place in Kansas City this year, starting the evening of April 27 and lasting three days.

[lawrence-related id=70349,70347,70266,70065]

Michael Mayer falls in latest College Sports Wire mock draft

Could the Notre Dame star so being joining forces with the NFL death star?

It was business as usual in Indianapolis for former Notre Dame star tight end Michael Mayer.  He performed about as anticipated and the next stop for him after Notre Dame’s pro day will likely be in the first round of the NFL draft.  But could his stock be slipping?

We’ve been tracking our colleague Patrick Conn’s mock drafts at College Sports Wire this off-season and he’s been about as high on Mayer as anyone.  He’s had him going to the Patriots and Texans in the early-teens recently, but in his latest mock draft he slides Mayer down considerably.

Instead of going in the teens, Conn has Mayer going to the Cowboys at No. 26 overall.  Here’s what Conn says about the mocked selection:

The Cowboys could lose Dalton Schultz to free agency after tagging him in the 2022 season. This year they can add the top pass-catching tight end with Mayer. This will benefit them in the red zone.

Falling isn’t what anyone wants for Mayer as the payday that comes with being drafted roughly 10 spots later is obvious.  However, there are few places better for a tight end to get drafted and succeed than with Dallas, especially if they lose Schultz who hauled in 57 receptions and five touchdowns last season.

[lawrence-related id=70266,70065,69682,69546]

Notre Dame loses tight end to transfer portal

Best of luck to him in the future!

Another Notre Dame player has entered the transfer portal: It appears tight end Cane Berrong has played his final down with the Fighting Irish. Berrong was one of two tight ends to enter Notre Dame in the 2021 recruiting class.  An ACL injury suffered during his freshman season stunted his development the past two years.

Berrong played on special teams before the injury as a freshman.  Due to the ACL injury in 2021, Berrong was not cleared to play until late in 2022. He saw action in one contest this fall.

Notre Dame also saw the development of Mitchell Evans and Holden Staes at the position, making it easy to see how Berrong’s journey to the top of Notre Dame’s tight end depth chart was anything but guaranteed.

A few of college football’s biggest names were in pursuit of Berrong before he signed with Notre Dame. The Georgia native had offers from Auburn, Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Michigan and others.

The Irish lose Berrong after already losing Michael Mayer to the NFL draft.  Notre Dame isn’t going to return much production at tight end in 2023, but Evans, Staes, Eli Raridon and Kevin Baumann are set to return. Cooper Flanagan is set to join the Irish in the 2023 recruiting class as well.

[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbz1mmy7gev0xbr player_id=01eqbvp13nn1gy6hd4 image=]

[listicle id=65332]