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Cole Kmet ditches baseball, focuses on football for Notre Dame

By Mason Plummer

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 28: Durham Smythe #80 and Cole Kmet #84 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrate after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Notre Dame Stadium on October 28, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 28: Durham Smythe #80 and Cole Kmet #84 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrate after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against the North Carolina State Wolfpack at Notre Dame Stadium on October 28, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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The former Irish closer decided Monday to hang up his baseball cleats and glove in favor of the Notre Dame football helmet and pads.

A former two-sport athlete at Notre Dame, Cole Kmet decided to call his baseball career quits after experiencing heavy left-arm soreness over the past couple weeks. It appears as if this was a lingering injury for Kmet, one that he feared may effect his football career.

Kmet ultimately decided to choose his football career over his baseball career, and really who can blame him? While Kmet has been a very solid reliever for the Irish baseball team, his future has always been with football and that was never in doubt. Kmet has a much better chance of reaching the professional level in football rather than in baseball.

Kmet joins a few other recent players who have played both football and baseball at Notre Dame. Jeff Samardzija, Golden Tate and Torii Hunter Jr. are some recent notable Irish football players that have played both sports.

The news that Kmet is essentially retiring from baseball is music to the ears of the Irish coaching staff. Having a two-sport athlete on the team is tough, as Kmet (was) forced to miss some Spring football practice, as he was with the baseball team.

The football team needs Kmet’s full attention this season as he looks to be line for the starting tight end position. A lot will be expected from Kmet this season at “Tight End U”. With Alize Mack leaving Notre Dame to head to the NFL Draft, the tight end position is all Kmet’s for the taking. The guys behind Kmet are all inexperienced, or mainly used as a blocking tight end (Brock Wright).

Last season, Kmet totaled 162 yards on 15 total catches and no touchdowns. While he wasn’t the starter and Alize Mack was the focus of the offense from the tight end position, Kmet will need to improve his stats massively this season.

Ian Book has shown he will look to the tight end often in the offense and Kmet will be that guy this year. With Book at the helm last season, Mack racked up 311 yards on 33 receptions and three touchdowns.

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Expect big-time numbers from Kmet this season — he will be one of the best tight ends in the nation.

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