Sophomore Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer continues to impress
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Considered one of the top college football tight ends in the nation, Notre Dame sophomore Michael Mayer has a unique skill set that will likely translate to the NFL someday.
Through nearly two full seasons at Notre Dame, Mayer’s consistent play and football prowess are already known by many. The budding college football star is only 20 years old, but he already has the makings of an elite tight end.
Offensive Coordinator Tommy Rees, who is in his fifth year coaching at Notre Dame, says that Mayer could be “the best tight end” in the school’s history. He joins a long list of successful tight ends who attended Notre Dame and went on to play in the NFL, including former Pro Bowler Kyle Rudolph and 2012 John Mackey Award winner Tyler Eifert.
During his freshman year at Notre Dame, Mayer was already making a name for himself. In 2020, he racked up 450 receiving yards on 42 receptions and scored two touchdowns.
That year, Mayer was tied with wide receiver Javon McKinley for most receptions while also playing alongside fellow tight end Tommy Tremble (whom the Carolina Panthers drafted in the third round during the 2021 NFL draft).
In 2021, Mayer is aiming for sustained success which will certainly appeal to NFL teams. The Notre Dame tight end is already drawing comparisons to several NFL superstars, with some even referring to him as “Baby Gronk.”
Despite the praise he is receiving from coaches and scouts, Mayer remains humble and continues to focus on improving every aspect of his game.
While speaking with Sports Illustrated back in August, Mayer noted some active NFL players and what he learns from them.
“[NFL tight ends] can run routes,” he said. “They can catch. They can get yards after the catch. I would put myself in that category.”
Tommy Rees also went on to explain that Mayer not only has all the physical tools to succeed, but also has the intangibles that make him an elite player.
“You want to talk about a guy that’s wired the right way,” Rees told Sports Illustrated when speaking about Mayer. “He comes to work every single day with the mentality of he’s gonna get better and he wants to go be dominant.”
The 2021 season is already well underway, and Mayer is certainly a centerpiece of the offense. He is leading the team in receptions and receiving yards while averaging more than 11.0 yards per catch.
It’s an understatement to say that Mayer is making sizeable contributions on the offense. And as far as 2022 goes, the sky’s the limit for Notre Dame’s superstar tight end.
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