We’ve reached the top five of the Blue & Gold Top 25 Notre Dame Players of 2024 list. It’s only right for it to include a tight end.
Here’s why Mitchell Evans checks in at No. 5 on the countdown.
Why Evans is No. 5
He could very well end up leading Notre Dame in receiving yards. He nearly did that in 2023, and he only played in eight games because he tore his ACL in the eighth. He finished with 422 receiving yards, second to only Chris Tyree ‘s 484. Evans did lead Notre Dame in receptions, recording 29 in those eight games. Rico Flores Jr. finished second with 27.
It’s sort of scary realizing Notre Dame might fall into the same over-reliance on Evans that was the case against Ohio State and Duke last fall. It’s shades of Drew Pyne hardly doing anything other than looking Michael Mayer ‘s way in 2022, too. But the Fighting Irish wide receiver room is deeper in 2024 than it was in either of the last two seasons, and that can only serve to help free things up for Evans.
Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman said at the end of May that Evans should be ready to compete in fall camp, which begins July 31. A healthy Evans is unquestionably Notre Dame’s No. 1 tight end. A healthy Evans very well could be Notre Dame’s No. 1 receiving option, period, even with 11 scholarship wideouts, six of which were not on the Irish roster last season.
Quarterback Riley Leonard ‘s options are more plentiful than those of Sam Hartman last year. But Leonard might still look up and feel the urge to throw the ball in 88’s direction.
Nothing wrong with that.
“His frame, if it hits his hands he’s coming down with the ball,” Leonard said. “You look at every single good quarterback in the history of football, they had a great tight end to complement their game. Everybody had a go-to tight end. So, to have him, I’m excited to get him the ball.”
What a successful season for Evans would look like
Flirting with Michael Mayer-like numbers.
Mayer went over 800 receiving yards in back-to-back seasons. He caught 16 total touchdowns in those two campaigns. Evans was on pace for close to 700 receiving yards last season. That’s a number that’s only been hit four times in Notre Dame history, with Mayer obviously holding half of those instances. Evans has what it takes to log the fifth 700-plus yard season for a tight end in program history.
What he needs to do more of, though, is score. He’s got two touchdowns in his career. Mayer left South Bend with 18, more than any other former Irish tight end. Evans isn’t going to hit that total, obviously. But if he can get eight scores this year he’d finish his career with 10, and only three tight ends in Irish history have gotten to double digits; Mayer, Ken McAfee (15) and Tyler Eifert (11).
Success for Evans would be truly getting into the air of those all-time greats. He’s shown he’s talented enough to. Now he’s got to display that for a full season. If he does, the numbers will speak for themselves. And a potential first-round NFL Draft choice could be in his future too. Even Mayer did not come away with one of those.
Five voters — Tyler Horka , Kyle Kelly , Todd D. Burlage , Steve Downey and Jack Soble — were asked to rank their top-25 most important Fighting Irish ahead of the upcoming football season. Players were given 25 points for a first-place vote, 24 points for a second-place vote, and so on and so forth.
This list is not necessarily ranking the best players or the top NFL prospects; it’s the most important players. Voters considered talent, impact, place on the depth chart and positional value, but a premium is placed on these two questions: 1) If you subtracted this individual from the roster, how much of a setback would it be? And 2) If this less proven player emerges and makes an impact, how much does that raise the ceiling (or lower it, if a breakout does not happen as expected)?
Individual rankings for Evans
Todd D. Burlage: No. 3
Tyler Horka: No. 5
Steve Downey: No. 5
Jack Soble: No. 6
Kyle Kelly: No. 9
BGI’s Notre Dame Top 25 so far
5. Mitchell Evans (102)
6. Charles Jagusah (95)
7. Jack Kiser (93)
8. Jeremiyah Love (88)
9. Rylie Mills (82)
10. RJ Oben (71)
11. Kris Mitchell (64)
12. Christian Gray (49)
13. Jadarian Price (48)
14. Jaden Greathouse (47)
15. Jordan Faison (44)
16. Jaylen Sneed (42)
17. Aamil Wagner (36)
18. Ashton Craig (36)
19. Jordan Botelho (32)
20. Billy Schrauth (31)
21. Drayk Bowen (30)
22. Jordan Clark (26)
23. Rod Heard II (24)
24. Jayden Thomas (22)
25. Pat Coogan (19)
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