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Notre Dame Football All-Decade Team: Tight End

By Nathan Erbach

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 13: Theo Riddick #6 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish moves to celebrate with Tyler Eifert #80 after Eifert caught a touchdown pass against the Standford Cardinal at Notre Dame Stadium on October 13, 2012 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Stanford 20-13 in overtime. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 13: Theo Riddick #6 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish moves to celebrate with Tyler Eifert #80 after Eifert caught a touchdown pass against the Standford Cardinal at Notre Dame Stadium on October 13, 2012 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Stanford 20-13 in overtime. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – SEPTEMBER 05: Dylan Haines (14) of the Texas Longhorns tackles Durham Smythe (80) of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during the first quarter at Notre Dame Stadium on September 5, 2015 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Jon Durr/Getty Images) /

Durham Smythe (2013-2017)

Smythe had an interesting career at Notre Dame. One would look at his career stats and assume he shouldn’t be on this list with other players out producing him from a pass catching standpoint. However, he was an important player for them throughout his college career — mostly used an elite in-line blocking tight end. During red-shirt freshman season he appeared in all 13 games, and while he only caught one ball, he made an impact. His next year was cut short due to shoulder and knee injuries, but during his last two seasons, Notre Dame fans really noticed his importance impact, totaling five touchdowns while recognized by even the NFL scouting industry as a much better player than his totals.

He would ultimately be drafted in the 4th round by the Miami Dolphins, where he is doing much of the same. In 2019 so far, he has started 12 of 14 games for the Dolphins, but his known for his in-line blocking prowess. Smythe has never been the flashy, athletic freak TE, but he is a very valuable and useful football player.

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