Notre Dame Has Strong Tight Ends Returning for 2016 Season
By Walt Kosin
Can Notre Dame fix it’s tight end problem?
News spread quickly last week that tight end Tyler Luatua transferred from Notre Dame to Brigham Young. The red-shirt freshman was not used much this past season. He did not catch a pass, as he was used mainly in rushing situations.
Luatua’s future did not look too bright because he basically was the fourth tight end in Notre Dame’s five man rotation. His loss leaves Notre Dame with three tight ends for the 2016 season, along with the potential of retaining Chase Hounshell, if he is allowed to have a sixth season. Hounshell was recruited as a defensive lineman, but found himself with little playing time because of injuries. He asked for and received permission from Brian Kelly to play tight end this past season.
Although the Fighting Irish did not get much production from their tight ends this past season, the players they recruited over the past four years have great potential and should play a large role in the Notre Dame offense. Let’s take a look at who they have returning.
Durham Smythe, last year’s starter played for Belton High School in Belton, Texas. As a senior in 2012, he caught 37 passes for 547 yards and six touchdowns. He was a two-time first team tight end on the Texas 8-5A team. He also made the All-State academic team his senior year. After his senior year, he was rated the sixth tight end by Scout and 247 Sports and the 15th tight end by Rivals. He made a verbal commitment to Texas in 2012 and had scholarship offers from Florida, Georgia, Michigan, and others. He de-committed from Texas and signed with Notre Dame in February, 2013.
Smythe red-shirted his freshman season in 2013. In 2014, with Ben Koyack starting, Smythe played in all 13 games and made his first catch against Arizona State. In 2015, he became the starting tight end for Notre Dame. In the second game against Virginia, he had two catches for 13 yards. One of the passes was an underhanded one thrown by DeShone Kizer on a fake field-goal attempt that Smythe took to the end zone. With a few minutes left in the game, he tore his MCL and suffered a shoulder injury. He had surgery shortly thereafter and missed the entire regular reason. He did play against Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. Smythe is Notre Dame’s best all-around tight end in that he blocks well and catches the ball well.
The tight end with the most potential is Alize Jones. This 6’5” 240 pounder was a four star recruit out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas. He was rated the number one tight end in the country. During his senior season at Gorman, he caught 41 passes for 930 yards and 13 touchdowns. He averaged an astounding 22 yards per catch, which is phenomenal for a tight end. He committed to UCLA early in his recruitment, but committed late in the 2015 recruiting cycle to Notre Dame. Jones has the most potential of all the tight ends. He has outstanding hands, runs very good routes and his size allows him to earn extra yards after the catch.
Nic Weishar attended Marist High School in Midiothian, Illinois. He was a first team tight end in Parade Preps All American. He is the all-time leading receiver in Illinois High School history with 237 catches. He was on the first team All State for Illinois and was rated the 212th player by 247 Sports after his senior season. As a senior, he made 86 catches for 1,044 yards and ten touchdowns.
The 6’4” 240-lb. Weishar was red-shirted his freshman year in 2014. He played sparingly this past season even though he had a few catches. He needs to bulk up a little more which will help him in his blocking assignments. He is definitely an excellent pass receiving tight end who will play much this coming season.
More fighting irish: 3 Players Under The Radar For 2016
If the NCAA allows Chase Hounshell to receive a sixth year of eligibility, the Fighting Irish will have four tight ends. Hounshell was used last season as an in-line blocker on rushing plays. If he plays, he will be utilized in the same way this season.
The Fighting Irish did not recruit a tight end this 2016 recruiting cycle as they missed out on signing a number of four star tight ends. The Irish have the option of getting a player to change positions if they want a fifth tight end. Whether this is done or not, the Fighting Irish are in great shape at tight end this season.
Durham Smythe will probably start again this season. His all-around ability should have Fighting Irish fans excited. Alize Jones will see a lot of playing time as his athleticism and pass catching ability will be utilized. Also, there is a chance he could become the starting tight end. If Nic Weishar can continue to develop and become stronger, the Notre Dame tight end situation will be a strong point for the team. Chase Hounshell will bring much depth and great blocking ability.
Even through the Fighting Irish did not recruit a tight end in the 2016 recruiting cycle, there is good news on the horizon. The Irish have already received two verbal commitments for tight end in the 2017 recruiting cycle. They are Brock Wright who attends Cy-Fair High School in Cypress, Texas and Cole Kmet of St. Viator High School in Arlington Heights, Illinois. Wright is rated the top tight end in the country for the 2017 class. Kmet is rated the number ten tight end for the 2017 class.