Football by Numbers Notre Dame Fighing Irish

TE Rankings: Michael Mayer

October 4, 2021 CFB Saturdays Staff

Updated: 03/01/2022

As we review the TE rankings, players have had the opportunity to raise their stock and move up the rankings. Before we jump into Michael Mayer, here’s a few reminders about the rankings themselves:

The rankings will be updated throughout the season.
Players who have not played college football are not eligible for the rankings.
Players are graded on their college ability, not their pro potential.
We are judging players on their film, production and physical tools.

You can view the College Football TE Rankings here.

Notre Dame‘s Michael Mayer has been an impact player since arriving on campus. He had a strong true freshman season in 2020, catching 42 passes for 450 yards and 2 touchdowns in 12 games. In 2021, Mayer was Notre Dame’s most consistent weapon in the passing game, providing a reliable go-to weapon for all of the quarterbacks that played for the Irish. He led the team with 71 catches for 840 yards and 7 touchdowns during the 2021 the season. Mayer is now the leader of the Fighting Irish offense and will be the focal point of the offense in 2022.

Mayer is a physical football player who has the size at 6’5″ 251 lbs and the attitude to intimidate defenders. He powers through arm tackles and drives defenders backwards after contact. Mayer plays with a ferocity that makes him difficult to tackle and makes defenders question if they really want to take him on. He regularly picks up yards after the catch and after contact. That strength and toughness not only makes Mayer effective with the ball in his hands, but also make him a leader his teammates want to follow.

Mayer may be built like a bull, but his speed and quickness are a big part of his game as well. He has good speed and can stretch the field vertically against linebackers and is a refined route runner who creates separation over the middle. Mayer is a good athlete with the balance and feet to make adjustments to the ball and an impressive catch radius that helps him bring in almost anything thrown his way. He positions himself well, giving his quarterback a good target and shielding the ball from defenders. He has all of the tools to be a dangerous receiver and then is equally dangerous after the catch as well.

Mayer plays with a rare blend of power and athleticism that make him a tough match-up at tight end. His physicality helps him at the point of attack and he is a capable blocker in the running game because of it. His ability to make plays in the passing game is his calling card, but Mayer is a complete player who helps the offense in all phases of the game. He has become a top tier tight end and will be a headache for defenses to handle in 2022.

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