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Notre Dame Fighting Irish News: Mitchell Evans breakout, more

By Oliver Vandervoort

Sep 30, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end Mitchell Evans (88) catches the football during the first half of the game against Duke Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2023; Durham, North Carolina, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end Mitchell Evans (88) catches the football during the first half of the game against Duke Blue Devils at Wallace Wade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jaylynn Nash-USA TODAY Sports /
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While there might be some people who are surprised that Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end Mitchell Evans has broken out, his coach isn’t one of them.

Don’t count Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive coordinator Gerard Parker among those who is surprised to see the kind of season tight end Mitchell Evans is having.

Speaking to On3 this week, Parker talked a lot about Evans. And when he was asked whether or not he saw Evans playing like this when they were recruiting him, he didn’t hold back.

"“I’m gonna be totally honest. Yes. This isn’t an accident. He has A-plus ball skills, he was a high school quarterback, he’s a great route-runner, he’s got good top-end speed. There’s reasons. And so it wouldn’t be a surprise, but there was a pretty good player here before him. Sometimes that kind of keeps that thing sheltered a little bit before it comes out. So I wouldn’t be surprised at all, but he deserves what he’s getting and he’s put himself in by a skill set that allows him to.”"

After having just five catches total in 2021 and 2022, Evans has 18 this season so far. While he’s got 272 yards, he doesn’t have a touchdown yet. Though it seems like that is coming any day. Maybe against Louisville.

Notre Dame Fighting Irish mistakes?

While plenty of Golden Domer fans are more than happy about the win over the Duke Bluedevils, Marcus Freeman’s squad played far from perfect football.

On3 is also looking at the mistakes that were made and how Notre Dame football can improve this week. And maybe not force its fans to live through another nail-biter.

The focus of Marist Liufau

Taking it one day, and one week at a time is a saying that lots of players and coaches say but don’t necessarily honor. According to Notre Dame Fighting Irish linebacker Marist Liufau, he lives it very seriously.

He recently told Tyler Horka that he has such singular focus, he rarely knows who a team is playing the week beyond the current one.

However, there is one team he has drawn a bead on. He absolutely knows when the Irish will go up against USC.

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