Notre Dame, aka Tight End U, needs more from its big guys

Yahoo Sports2h ago17 min readOriginal source →

TL;DR

Notre Dame football's Blue-Gold Game featured 40 pass targets among 14 players, but none were caught by tight ends, raising concerns for offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock.

Key points

Notre Dame football had 40 pass targets in the Blue-Gold Game
14 different skill-position players were targeted
No receptions were made by tight ends
Total receptions amounted to 222 yards
Mike Denbrock is the offensive coordinator

Mentioned in this story

Grand Valley State

Notre Dame

Notre Dame, aka Tight End U, needs more from its big guys

SOUTH BEND — More than 40 pass targets were distributed among at least 14 different skill-position players for Notre Dame football in the Blue-Gold Game on Saturday, April 25, at Notre Dame Stadium.

Twenty-one of those flings went down as receptions for a total of 222 yards, but not one of those receptions went to a tight end.

For Irish offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, four decades removed from his own playing career as a tight end at Grand Valley State, the latter part didn’t sit right.

“I want to see more production out of that group, in the passing game in particular,” Denbrock said. “I’m more than thrilled where we are in the run game. With Coop (Flanagan) and James Flanigan and Tyrus Washington and the guys in that room, we can line up physically with anybody.”

That’s just part of the job description, however, especially at a place that justifiably considers itself Tight End U.

“Can we run and play football in space and make plays in the passing game and be our quarterback’s best friend when he needs one?” Denbrock said. “That’s something we have to continue to get better at, in my opinion.”

Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman, left, waits to lead his team onto the field before the Blue-Gold spring game at Notre Dame Stadium on Saturday, April 25, 2026, in South Bend.