Notre Dame football position preview: Questions abound at tight end
From 2020-22 it was consensus All-America Michael Mayer leading the way, including a tie with wideout Javon McKinley as a freshman. The past two years, Mitchell Evans topped the list, although with far more modest totals than Mayer posted.
Now that Evans is in the NFL with the Carolina Panthers, the five-year streak could be in jeopardy. In 2019 Chase Claypool outpaced tight end Cole Kmet in catches (66-43).
Eli Raridon enters his senior year with 16 career catches and a block-first reputation. Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock is on record predicting 'a huge season' for Raridon this fall, but that will require instant chemistry with a first-time starting quarterback to be determined.
Holdovers Kevin Bauman and Jack Larsen return, but promising junior Cooper Flanagan could miss the bulk of the regular season as he recovers from a torn left Achilles suffered in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia.
'More like Superman:' What Notre Dame football greats say about Jeremiyah Love
Flanagan has five catches through two seasons but consistently earned playing time last year with his blocking prowess.
That leaves Arkansas transfer Ty Washington and four-star freshman James Flanigan as potential wildcards.
Like Raridon, Washington was mostly counted on to block during his three seasons at Arkansas. Denbrock tried to recruit him to Cincinnati out of high school, so the connection is there, but Washington has just 14 catches for 212 yards and four scores in his career.
Flanigan, the son of former Irish defensive tackle Jim Flanigan, is a freak athlete who also starred in hockey and track and field during his Wisconsin prep career. The younger Flanigan, who also played defense, piled up 21 sacks and 26 touchdown grabs over his final three seasons.
'I wouldn't discount young James Flanigan,' Denbrock told reporters this summer. 'He's got size, he's got power and he's a mature kid for his age.'
Depth chart
9 | TE | Eli Raridon | 6-7, 251 | Sr. (1L)-&
84 | TE | Kevin Bauman | 6-5, 253 | Gr. Sr. (1L)
85 | TE | Jack Larsen | 6-3, 250 | R-Fr. (4L)
7 | TE | Ty Washington | 6-4, 247 | Tr.-R-Jr. (2L)
88 | TE | James Flanigan | 6-6, 237 | Fr. (4L)
87 | TE | Cooper Flanagan | 6-6, 258 | Jr. (3L)-Inj.
&: Denotes remaining eligibility years
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Previewing Eli Raridon and Notre Dame football tight end position group
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
RB Jonathan Ward to sign with Giants
The Giants are signing veteran running back Jonathan Ward, Jordan Schultz reports. Ward worked out for the team Monday. The Giants need depth at the position with minor injuries to rookie Cam Skattebo (hamstring) and undrafted rookie Rushawn Baker (knee). Ward, 27, spent last season with the Steelers and played 10 offensive snaps and 59 on special teams. He had five carries for 22 yards. He also has played games for the Cardinals and Titans and has totaled 28 touches for 143 yards and a touchdown in his career.
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Porteous completes LAFC move from Watford
Defender Ryan Porteous has completed a £752,000 ($1million) move from Watford to Los Angeles FC. The centre-back made 82 appearances for the Hornets after joining them from Scottish Premiership club Hibernian in January 2023, and spent the the second half of last season on loan at Preston North End. Scotland international Porteous has signed a three-year contract with the Major League Soccer club, with an option for another year. Transfers - August 2025 Latest Watford news, analysis and fan views Listen to Watford content on BBC Sounds
Yahoo
11 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Coach Javier Mendez: Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria 'the No. 1 fight to make' in UFC
The building blocks for a potential super fight between Islam Makhachev and Ilia Topuria are being put in place. There's no doubt a clash between the two current pound-for-pound bests would be big for the sport, but how big exactly? Makhachev's long-time coach, Javier Mendez, thinks a championship bout between Makhachev and Topuria is the biggest fight the UFC could make today. This wasn't the case a few months ago, as Mendez told MMA Junkie last year that Topuria had ways to go to be at the level of his student. However, since those comments, Topuria defended the UFC featherweight title, by becoming the first to knockout Max Holloway, and then moved up to lightweight to knock out Charles Oliveira and claim the belt, which was vacated by Makhachev himself. "I think every fan wants to watch this fight," Mendez told Hablemos MMA in Spanish. "It's the No. 1 fight, No. 1. The other one was Jon Jones vs. Tom Aspinall – that was No. 1. But right now, if Islam wins, the No. 1 fight to make is Topuria vs. Islam." Makhachev vacated his UFC lightweight title earlier this year, and is expected to challenge UFC welterweight champion Jack Della Maddalena in the coming months. No official date or location has been announced by the UFC. Should Makhachev become a two-division UFC champion, just like Topuria did in June, Mendez would love to see a clash between the two – whether it's at 155 or 170 pounds. "La Leyenda" has been very vocal about wanting to fight Makhachev and has chased him for some time now. He's also made some bold claims, saying he could submit Makhachev, who's one of the most dominant grappler's MMA has ever seen. Some would be bothered by Topuria's comments, but Mendez very much likes what's going on. "I like what he's been doing," Mendez said. "He's doing a good job at getting people to want to watch the fight. The more Ilia does, the more people want to see this fight. I like everything he's doing as a fighter. He's very strong and doesn't care about the weight. I think now it's a great fight for us. The first thing Islam wanted was a legacy fight – he wanted the welterweight title. Now if we win the welterweight title, we can go down or he can come up. That's what I say, but if the UFC doesn't like it, it's not happening. But first we need to win." This article originally appeared on MMA Junkie: Coach: Islam Makhachev vs. Ilia Topuria 'No. 1 fight to make' in UFC
