'13 TX TE Durham Smythe (Notre Dame Signed LOI)

[ThePiombino]

Matuska was recruited as a DE, but the possibility of him switching to TE has been mentioned frequently. With Smythe's verbal, that seems much less likely now.

Yup. Injury and transfer are the only ways I see him getting reps at TE now.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

A) I did not know that. I though he was coming in as a TE and then I got lost in all the other commits.Thanks.
B) Some would argue otherwise. If you remember I do swim in alligator infested areas and we do have watch outs. I aint been caught yet though.
C) I do not recall that but if that is the case, me likey. You can have the roughly $11970 vbucks in my vault, but the weight of reps should suffice.....

I know you have gators all around you. Like, you used to tell me about it when you were insulting my lack of putting initials TL in front of Hanna. Back when I taught you to romance your wife with light Gaelic Irish love songs. Now get out of here and save all 11 of your vbucks! Love you man!

 

[ab2cmiller]

Gerry Hamilton from 247 was on Bill King's show this morning and commented on Smythe. Below are some excerpts.

What's good about Smythe is that he's an all around TE. He's not just a flex guy or just an in-line guy. His first step is quick. He get's into routes quick. He's got versatilitiy. You can flex him out but I don't think you're going to split him out. You can use him in-line, you can use him in motions. You can do a lot of things with him.

He's a very smart football player. He really understands the game. I don't think he's going to vertically run down the seam at the next level. In the short and intermediate game, he's going to be very good. He understands how to run routes. He understands how to use his body to create seperation. He plays through contact really well. I think he's a terrific TE pickup for ND.

 

[tko]

Gerry Hamilton from 247 was on Bill King's show this morning and commented on Smythe. Below are some excerpts.

My ears like this music.

 

[woolybug25]

A) I did not know that. I though he was coming in as a TE and then I got lost in all the other commits.Thanks.
B) Some would argue otherwise. If you remember I do swim in alligator infested areas and we do have watch outs. I aint been caught yet though.
C) I do not recall that but if that is the case, me likey. You can have the roughly $11970 vbucks in my vault, but the weight of reps should suffice.....

Don't spend it all in one place...

 

[Cackalacky]

Don't spend it all in one place...

 

[Grahambo]

Jason Sapp ‏@BGI_JasonSapp
#NotreDame commit Durham Smythe offers prediction from recruiting weekend, getting visit from Kerry Cooks today (VIP) TE Durham Smythe prediction from recruiting weekend

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Inquiring minds want to know.

 

[ShakeDown]

Out of Hollins, Fitts and EV, 2/3, but a shot with all three.

 

[Bogtrotter07]

Which two?

 

[rtrn2glory]

anybody's guess

 

[ShakeDown]

anybody's guess

^

 

[Bogtrotter07]

THX!

 

[NDdomer2]

Which two?

does it really matter? obviously any combo with Vanderdoes is amazing but if its Hollins and Fitts that is still a major win for this program.

 

[TheTurningPoint]

I had a coach do a little scouting report on Smythe for the tp on monday heres what he said. So i think ND is getting a damn good player.


Durham Smythe has the size and frame to play against the elite at the next level. Judging by his measurables and frame I would not be surprised if he gained 20 lbs in college. This is assuming he grows an inch or more which is not out of the question. He is an athletic type tight end that I see ND using similar to how they used Rudolph. His high school team split him out and used him in many ways.
I cannot find his 40 time marked down but assuming he is playing against average at best Texas secondaries he should be just fine. There are times where he blows past opponents. The main reasons he is able to get loose deep in the secondary most times is his technique and route running ability.
Watching Smythe run routes is impressive for his size. You can tell he is very well coached and has a high football IQ. He is reading defenses and knows where the holes are in the zone. He seems to always find the soft spot in the zone and motors down when he gets there if need be. This is a skill that all good college receivers must have and may help him get early playing time. In his route running his go to move is the swim move. He does this very efficiently and uses it to get himself into open space. When catching the ball he uses his body to shield defenders. Many of his catches he makes just by positioning. Not by beating backs badly. He has also shown that no matter where the throw is he knows how to catch it. He can catch the ball high, comes back to the ball well, shields defenders in traffic, and catches well in stride.
From what I have seen he also blocks in space well. He is always looking to make the extra block and knows when to take the big hit compared to getting body on body to free the ball carrier. On the line of scrimmage he also blocks well. He is always using his hands and uses his feet to get his body in correct position. His short quick steps and lack of lunging show his athletic ability.
There are very few glaring needs of improvement. The first thing I noticed is at times his hand placement when blocking from the line of scrimmage is not perfected. He gets his hands on the outside of the body instead of inside where holding calls are less likely to come from. To play at the next level I also feel like he needs to fill out more without losing his athletic attributes. This may be the only thing I see stopping him from playing early
Overall I would call Smythe a possession tight end. He will not be a tight end with game breaking speed. He will get behind secondaries at times due to his quality route running and technique. He will be able to split and do the things ND offense is looking for. On the line he has some work to do with his overall technique. This is all should be fixable with what I have seen him do elsewhere. In the future I see Smythe being a tight end that will be remembered for big 3rd down and red zone plays. His size, ability to catch in traffic, and his use of his body for position give me reason to believe this.

 

[ShakeDown]

I had a coach do a little scouting report on Smythe for the tp on monday heres what he said. So i think ND is getting a damn good player.

Nice write up, thanks. Which coach are we talking about here?

N/M, looks like it is a high school coach, Shawn M.

 

[rtrn2glory]

awesome stuff TP.

Question: is turning point doing/done in the past a breakdown of the ND recruiting class.

Would be awesome!!

 

[Grahambo]

Kyle Rudolph 2.0 IF I can get a duplicate of this, I'm all in:

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[TheTurningPoint]

awesome stuff TP.

Question: is turning point doing/done in the past a breakdown of the ND recruiting class.

Would be awesome!!

Its coming. Coach that is doing it was a GA under Urban Meyer and is great at assessing potential at the high school level. His word is golden!

 

[rtrn2glory]

great news!!

looking forward to it..thanks again!

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Kyle Rudolph 2.0 IF I can get a duplicate of this, I'm all in:

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I think size wise, Smythe would be more comparable to Eifert...

However, if he becomes v2.0 of either of those guys. I'll be quite content. lol

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

I think size wise, Smythe would be more comparable to Eifert...

However, if he becomes v2.0 of either of those guys. I'll be quite content. lol

He's 230 ALREADY. He could get to Rudolph size IMO. Guy could be a beast.

 

[md_bennett]

After watching what a real QB can do with Rudolph in the pro bowl and seeing Eifert the past couple years, if either of this years TE come even close to Eifert or Rudolph I will have to dance a little Irish jig

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

He's 230 ALREADY. He could get to Rudolph size IMO. Guy could be a beast.

True, but I still picture Smythe as a split out WR type, with a play style similar to Tyler.

Regardless, like I said I'm cool him being a clone of either of the two.

 

[DillonHall]

True, but I still picture Smythe as a split out WR type, with a play style similar to Tyler.

Regardless, like I said I'm cool him being a clone of either of the two.

Rudolph was split out all the time too.

 

[FightingIrishLover7]

Rudolph was split out all the time too.

Not as much with Weis.

 

[Irish Houstonian]

McGlinchey, Bivin, Smythe and Elmer should take on the mens' BB team next year.

 

[DillonHall]

Not as much with Weis.

Exactly, you're using an unfair comparison. When Kelly came in, Rudolph was split out often much like Eifert.

 

[Irishnuke]

Kinda unfair and unrealistic to compare him to Rudolph and Eifert, who were the top TEs in the country during their time at ND. Durham and Mike H. have some big shoes to fill.

 

[WakeUpEchoes]

Durham Smythe ‏@D_Smythe88
My National Letter of Intent came in the mail! Can't wait to make it official next Wednesday! #ND

Pumped for this kid. He also maintains that he is the number one ping pong player in Texas and if the Gug has a table, he will beat anyone.