Notre Dame Football: Projecting Chris Finke’s 2019 stats
By J.P. Scott
Chris Finke emerged as a key player in the Notre Dame football offense in 2018. He could play an even larger role in 2019.
One of the pleasant surprises of the 2018 Notre Dame football season was the emergence of wide receiver Chris Finke as an important part of the Irish offense. His impact was felt immediately with an impressive touchdown grab in the Michigan game. He continued to provide the Notre Dame passing game with a consistent pass catcher over the middle all season.
Heading into 2019, it appears Notre Dame will need Finke to take yet another step in terms of production. The loss of top wideout Miles Boykin to the NFL Draft leaves a void in terms of productivity at receiver.
Conventional wisdom says Chase Claypool will take over that No. 1 role, but there is not a clear cut No. 2 wideout ready to step in for Claypool. Finke is a prototypical slot receiver. That’s where he lives and thrives.
This could mean a couple of things for the 2019 Irish offense.
For starters, someone will step up and take over the No. 2 spot. That person will earn his share of targets, but familiarity may limit those looks. As a result, you make see Chris Finke putting up No. 2 receiver numbers from the slot.
Quarterback Ian Book knows how Finke operates and is comfortable tossing the ball his way. Additionally, Finke’s routs tend to be higher-percentage in terms of chances of completion. Those routes fit Book’s skill set as a passer.
Going off last year’s stats and assuming Finke absorbs about a third of the production that Claypool put up at the No. 2 spot in 2018, a realistic statistical production projection for Chris Finke in 2019 would be as follows:
65 receptions for 780 yards and four touchdowns.
The bump in touchdowns is assuming more red zone targets.
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Those stats would not only benefit the Irish as a whole in 2019, but they would almost certainly put Finke in the conversation for best slot receiver in college football — subsequently boosting his NFL Draft stock.