There's a lot to be excited about for the Notre Dame football team heading into fall camp and the 2025 season. However, the school that has billed itself as Tight End U might have a problem at the position this season.
Since 2011, the Fighting Irish have had a stunning 10 tight ends selected in the NFL draft, including last season's leading receiver, Mitchell Evans, who had 43 catches for 421 yards with three touchdowns. But Evans is gone, and with him, any certainty about what kind of production will come from the tight end position this year.
ESPN certainly agrees with that assessment. A recent article detailed the "area of concern" for every team in the preseason Top 25. The publication pinpointed tight end for the Notre Dame football team.
Notre Dame football tight end depth chart unsettled as fall camp approaches
Tight end remains a bit of a question mark heading into preseason camp," Mark Schlabach wrote. "Senior Eli Raridon has the size (6-foot-7) and hands to excel at the position, but he was plagued by injuries during his first couple of college seasons, after tearing an ACL as a freshman.
"He had 11 catches for 90 yards with two touchdowns in 2024. The status of another tight end, Cooper Flanagan, who tore his left Achilles tendon in the Sugar Bowl, is in question."
The writer has a point. Evans, despite far too many injuries over his Notre Dame career was always considered a top talent in the nation at his position. The Irish will need to replace him with a committee approach, at least at first.
On the other hand, if Raridon and Flanagan aren't able to step up right away, Marcus Freeman and company can still turn to Kevin Bauman, who looking to finally break out in a big way.
There's also the wildcard in true freshman James Flanigan. He was a 4-star and Top 100 prospect who could rise to the top of the depth chart quickly.
He'll need to get up to speed fast once fall camp kicks off, but it's not totally out of the question that he could get important snaps before too long. Still, it's clear tight end is a position to keep an eye on when Notre Dame football really starts preparing for the 2025 campaign.