Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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62 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY ANDREW OWENS F or years, there was little doubt about which Fighting Irish tight end served as the unit's standout heading into the next season. From Anthony Fasano in 2005 through Ben Koyack in 2014, Notre Dame earned a long-held "Tight End U." moniker for produc- ing some of the nation's best at the position. Once Durham Smythe suffered an injury in game two last fall that would keep him out for the remainder of the season, the Irish relied on a hodgepodge of tight ends with different strengths and weak- nesses. Looking toward 2016, Notre Dame has its eyes set on developing the tight end personnel into a more well-rounded group. "I would think you're going to see our guys doing more as an all- around tight end than last year, how we had to bring guys in for spe- cific roles," tight ends coach Scott Booker said. "All those guys are capable of playing. I'd like to see all of them playing. As far as going in and out like we did last year, that hopefully may not be the case." With Smythe healthy for only 147 snaps in 2015, Notre Dame called upon Nic Weishar (286 snaps), Alizé Jones (239), Tyler Luatua (200) and Chase Hounshell (168) to fill the void. Smythe's replacements snagged a total of 17 passes for 215 yards and zero touchdowns. Luatua was a blocker with no threat in the passing game, while Jones and Weishar at times struggled with blocking in their first sea- sons on the field. Hounshell, meanwhile, converted from the defen- sive line to tight end as a fifth-year senior to provide more physicality. Booker hopes for a more complete output from each of the team's five tight ends (Smythe, Jones, Weishar, Luatua and senior Jacob Ma- tuska) in 2016. Smythe is still viewed as the leader despite relatively little experience heading into his senior season. He said this spring that a lack of continuity at the position might have made it difficult for the Irish quarterbacks to look their way in 2015. "He does understand that as far as the group, he does have the most time here at Notre Dame," said Booker of Smythe. "He understands how we do our work. He understands everything about our system. There's a sense of urgency with him in the fact that he doesn't have that bulk of playing time, so this isn't a time where it's a third-year guy or a fourth-year guy going through his third spring. He has a big sense of urgency. There's a fire lit underneath him and he understands he needs to work hard every day. "[The trust between quarterbacks and tight ends is] evolving and it's something that needs to continue to evolve. That's a summer thing. Those guys go out there in June or July and just continually work on our base routes; the tight ends have to catch and run and have those quarterbacks know exactly where we're going to be so they can do it in their sleep. We're going to continue to get to that point." When Luatua, a junior, announced his transfer from Notre Dame in January, the news delivered a blow to the team's blocking abilities — at least from the tight end position. Luatua appeared headed to BYU, but he had a change of heart in May and opted to remain in South Bend. His return, which of course was given the blessing from head coach Brian Kelly, will aid the Irish blocking efforts. After Luatua made his initial intentions public, the program moved defensive lineman Jacob Matuska to tight end, where he played in high school. TIGHT ENDS PUTTING THE PIECES TOGETHER Notre Dame hopes its group of specialized players can grow into a well-rounded unit Senior Durham Smythe missed all but three games in 2015 because of shoul- der and knee injuries. PHOTO BY ANDREW IVINS QUICK FACTS Position Coach: Scott Booker (5th year at Notre Dame) Returning Starters: Alizé Jones (5 career starts) and Durham Smythe (3) Departing Starters: None Projected New Starters: None Top Reserves: Tyler Luatua (3) and Nic Weishar (2) Waiting Their Turn: None Newcomers: None Moved In: Jacob Matuska (from DL) Moved Out: None Other Departures: Chase Hounshell (graduate transfer to Ohio State) FYI: Notre Dame was scheduled to carry four tight ends into the 2016 season before Luatua decided not to transfer to BYU … The Irish did not sign a tight end in the 2016 recruiting haul, but have commitments from four-star recruits Brock Wright and Cole Kmet in the 2017 class … No player started more than five games at the position in 2015 while the Irish juggled personnel following the injury to Smythe … Jones hauled in a career-long 45-yard catch that was a crucial play in the fourth quarter game- winning TD drive at No. 21 Temple Oct. 31 … Matuska had eight touchdown receptions in his final two years at Columbus (Ohio) Bishop Hartley.