Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
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BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2016 FOOTBALL PREVIEW ✦ 65 TIGHT ENDS POSITION COACH Scott Booker enters his seventh consecutive year with the Irish, and his fifth as the tight ends coach and special teams coor- dinator. He previously served as an intern at Notre Dame, working with the offensive staff and preparing film breakdowns, scouting reports and playbooks, among other duties. In each of his first three seasons at his current post, Booker mentored an NFL Draft pick and Mackey Award semifinalist. In 2012, Tyler Eifert won the trophy annually given to the nation's top tight end and was selected in the first round of the draft. He finished his Irish career as the school record holder for receptions (140) and receiving yards (1,840) by a tight end. The following year, Troy Niklas was a second-rounder after being named a semifinalist for the Mackey Award, while Ben Koyack continued the draft streak in 2014 when he was picked in the seventh round. Last year Notre Dame utilized a by-committee ap - proach at tight end due to injuries, youth and inexperi- ence at the position. All told, Irish tight ends accounted for 20 receptions, 233 receiving yards and one touch- down catch. Prior to South Bend, Booker coached defensive backs at Western Kentucky in 2009. The Pittsburgh native also mentored the defensive backs at his alma mater, Kent State, from 2005-08 after he served as a student assistant and graduate assistant at the school the previ- ous two seasons. He also worked with the special teams units at both schools. Booker played safety at Kent State from 1999-2002 and was named to the Mid-American Conference All- Academic team in 2001. RETURNING PLAYERS ALIZÉ JONES • TE So. • Las Vegas Ht.: 6-4½ • Wt.: 240 Career Highlights: Played in all 13 games and made five starts in 2015 … Led the way for Irish tight ends with 13 catches and 190 receiving yards. Prep: Scout listed him as a five-star recruit, the No. 1 prospect in Nevada, and the nation's No. 2 tight end and No. 32 overall prospect … Ranked by ESPN as the nation's No. 1 tight end and No. 52 overall player … Posted 41 receptions for 930 yards and 13 touchdowns as a senior … Helped Bishop Gorman to a 15-0 record and its sixth straight Division I state title, in addition to topping USA Today's final national team rankings … Named a first- team All-American by MaxPreps and USA Today … Played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Personal: Born March 29, 1997 … High school team - mate of classmate Nicco Fertitta at Bishop Gorman … Enrolled in First Year of Studies. Year G-GS Rec. Yds. Avg. TD 2015 13-5 13 190 14.6 0 TYLER LUATUA • TE Jr. • Paramount, Calif. Ht.: 6-2½ • Wt.: 255 Career Highlights: Saw action in 10 games and made three starts last year … Played in 10 games as a rookie in 2014 … Still seeking his first career reception. Prep: Ranked by ESPN as a four-star recruit, the No. 10 player in his state, and the nation's No. 3 tight end and No. 107 overall player … Notched 33 receptions for 412 yards and four touchdowns as a senior … As a junior, hauled in 43 passes for 594 yards and eight scores … Played in the Under Armour All-American Game. Personal: Born Dec. 16, 1996 … His brother Isaac was an offensive lineman at Alabama from 2011-15 … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Letters. JACOB MATUSKA • TE Sr. • Columbus, Ohio Ht.: 6-4½ • Wt.: 275 Career Highlights: Played in one game and assisted on one tackle as a reserve defensive lineman in 2015 … Moved to tight end during Fiesta Bowl preparation … Made his Irish debut in 2014, appearing in seven games with a start against USC … Finished with six tackles, including one sack … Did not see the field as a rookie in 2013. Prep: Listed by Scout as a four-star prospect, the No. 22 recruit in Ohio, and the No. 18 defensive end and No. 299 overall player in the country … A two-way prep standout at tight end and outside linebacker … Finished his high school days with 35 catches for 605 yards and 10 touchdowns, including a one-hander in a winning effort in the Ohio state championship game as a junior … Totaled 49 tackles, four stops for loss, three interceptions and a fumble recovery as a senior … Was named Associated Press first-team Division IV All-Ohio as a senior tight end. Personal: Born Nov. 5, 1994 … Enrolled in the Men- doza College of Business, majoring in management consulting. DURHAM SMYTHE • TE Sr. • Belton, Texas Ht.: 6-4½ • Wt.: 245 Career Highlights: Played in three games as a junior and started each one … Suffered shoulder and knee injuries in week two that resulted in separate surgeries and forced him to miss the final 10 games of the regular season … Regis- tered three catches for 18 yards, including a seven-yard touchdown grab on a fake field goal attempt at Virginia … Made his Irish debut in 2014, appearing in all 13 games … Recorded one catch for seven yards … Did not play in a game in 2013. Prep: Scout tabbed him as a four-star recruit, the No. 25 prospect in Texas, and the country's No. 6 tight end and No. 170 overall player … Hauled in 37 passes for 547 yards and six touchdowns as a senior en route to first-team Texas District 8-5A honors for the second straight season … Played in the Offense-Defense All- American Bowl. Personal: Born Aug. 9, 1995 … His father, Roy, played offensive line on Baylor's 1980 Southwest Conference championship squad … Enrolled in the College of Arts and Letters, majoring in sociology. Year G-GS Rec. Yds. Avg. TD 2014 13-0 1 7 7.0 0 2015 3-3 3 18 6.0 1 Totals 16-3 4 25 6.2 1 NIC WEISHAR • TE Jr. • Chicago Ht.: 6-4 • Wt.: 245 Career Highlights: Played in 12 games and started twice last fall … Caught three passes for 19 yards … Did not play in a game in 2014. Prep: Listed as a four-star pros - pect, the No. 9 player in Illinois, and the No. 5 tight end and No. 213 overall player nationally by 247Sports … First-team All-America selection according to Parade and MaxPreps … Finished his prep career as the all-time leading receiver in Illinois high school history with 252 catches … His 3,238 career receiving yards ranked fifth in state annals … Was a two-time Illinois High School Football Coaches Association Class 8A first-team all- state pick … Was also a two-time East Suburban Catholic Conference Offensive Player of the Year … As a senior, he hauled in 86 passes for 1,044 yards and 10 touchdowns … Also eclipsed 1,000 receiving yards in both his sopho - more and junior campaigns … Played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Personal: Born Sept. 19, 1995 … His late brother An- drew played at Illinois Wesleyan … Enrolled in the Men- doza College of Business. Year G-GS Rec. Yds. Avg. TD 2015 12-2 3 19 6.3 0 PLAYER BIOGRAPHIES BGI'S 2016 DEPTH CHART No. Tight End Ht. Wt. Cl./Elig. 10 Alizé Jones 6-4½ 240 So./3 80 Durham Smythe 6-4½ 245 Sr./2 82 Nic Weishar 6-4 245 Jr./3 13 Tyler Luatua 6-2½ 255 Jr./2 89 Jacob Matuska 6-4½ 275 Sr./2 Junior Tyler Luatua will be an important in-line blocker for Notre Dame this fall. PHOTO BY ANDREW IVINS