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Notre Dame Football: A way-too-early look at the Irish offensive depth chart

By Andrew Hall

PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 01: Jack Coan #17 of the Wisconsin Badgers throws a pass against the Oregon Ducks during the first half in the Rose Bowl game presented by Northwestern Mutual at Rose Bowl on January 01, 2020 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 01: Jack Coan #17 of the Wisconsin Badgers throws a pass against the Oregon Ducks during the first half in the Rose Bowl game presented by Northwestern Mutual at Rose Bowl on January 01, 2020 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Joe Scarnici/Getty Images) /
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Notre Dame football tight end Michael Mayer.  (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)
Notre Dame football tight end Michael Mayer.  (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame football depth chart: Tight End

The Irish tight end group lost a major possible contributor to the 2021 campaign when Tommy Tremble departed for the NFL. Notre Dame will counter this loss with a combination of tremendous young talent and solid experience.

Michael Mayer leads 2021 after a freshman all-American campaign. Mayer caught 42 passes for 450 yards and two touchdowns, and because of this, Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees must find other tight ends to compliment Mayer’s exceptional ability.

The Irish offense utilized two and, sometimes, three tight ends regularly this past season, and that may be the case again. In 2021, “11” personnel or one running back and 1one tight end will be used more frequently, however, two tight ends appear ready to join Mayer on the field.

Over the past two seasons, senior tight end George Takacs played sparingly, but in meaningful spots. In his two years of seeing the field, he caught only five passes for 42 yards and a touchdown, but his statistics do not reflect his ability to take over as the go-to back up this fall.

He possesses the size, blocking ability and soft hands needed to compliment Mayer.

  1. Michael Mayer (So.)
  2. George Takacs (RS Jr.)
  3. Kevin Bauman (RS Fr.)
  4. Cane Berrong (Fr.)
  5. Mitchell Evans (Fr.)

Sophomore Kevin Bauman and freshman Cane Berrong will battle for the third spot. Bauman impressed in 2020 despite rarely seeing the field, and it seems too logical that he will play frequently when the Irish hit the field against Florida State in September.

Notre Dame football depth chart: Offensive Tackle

Notre Dame replaces both offensive tackles this year after Liam Eichenberg and Robert Hainsey exhausted their eligibility and departed for the NFL. Protecting a less mobile player like Jack Coan is key to the 2021 offensive success.

Most likely, Notre Dame starts redshirt senior Joshua Lugg. Lugg started eight games over the past two seasons, and his experiences lessen the blow of losing Hainsey at the right tackle position. At the other position, the Irish likely start the 2019-2020 center Jarrett Patterson. The staff originally recruited Patterson to play tackle, and many believe that he moves to the blindside spot in 2021.

  • RT: 1. J. Lugg (RS Sr.), 2. T. Baker (RS Fr.), 3. M. Carmody (RS Fr.), 4. C. Johnson (Fr.)
  • LT:  1. Jarrett Patterson (RS Jr.), 2. Andrew Kristophic (RS So.), 3. Joe Alt (Fr.)

Behind the starters, lots of questions remain. Highly touted tackle prospect Tosh Baker can see the field earliest at the right tackle position when Lugg graduates. It makes sense to get Baker ready at the right tackle spot. After that, it really is a mix-and-match situation.

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