Notre Dame Football: Michael Mayer carrying the Tight End torch for Irish
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame Football team has a long history of developing elite tight ends, and Michael Mayer is the next to carry that torch.
When it comes to the tight end position, the Notre Dame Football program could be the best at producing NFL talent. From Dave Casper to Mark Bavaro, to Cole Kmet, it seems like every year there is some elite talent coming out of the program at this position group.
Over the years, we have seen the likes of Ken MacAfee, Irv Smith, Kyle Rudolph, and Irv Smith reinvent the tight end position, making Notre Dame a destination for tight ends coming out of high school if they want to get to the pros.
Just look at the 2021 NFL Draft, where Tommy Tremble rocketed up draft boards and found himself picked in the third round. After the draft, Brock Wright signed as an undrafted free agent with the Detroit Lions, giving the Irish to pro players from a depth chart that was led by Michael Mayer in 2020.
As a true freshman, Mayer established himself as one of the best tight ends in the country, and a guy who could be destined for the first round after completing his junior season in two years. Mayer has incredible catching skills, is an outstanding blocker, and is going to be a key for an Irish team looking to dominate again in 2021.
Notre Dame Football has a special one in Michael Mayer
During the 2020 college football season, the Irish were looking for weapons to help quarterback Ian Book, and they got two in both Mayer and Kyren Williams who dominated as freshmen. While Williams was in a redshirt season, Mayer was a true freshman, though he did not play like one, hauling in 40 passes for over 400 yards.
That was the kind of weapon Book needed, and with both the top wideouts on the depth chart gone to the NFL this offseason, leaving the wide receiver group as a question mark, he will be counted on again to be a security blanket for the quarterback. Jack Coan is going to love having Mayer as his tight end, and when all is said and done, he could end up being the most prolific tight end in school history.
At the next level, Mayer is going to thrive, as he has the size, speed, and hands to be a real threat on any team in the NFL. The tight end spot is so important at the next level, as teams love to open up the middle of the field, and Mayer is carrying on a tradition of NFL-ready tight ends that is second to no program in college football.