Kyle Rudolph....a few questions!

[Bjvorek]

A few questions for you regarding Kyle Rudolph:

1. How do you think he stacks up so far against ND's all-time great TE's?

2. By the end of his career here at ND, do you think he will be the best ND TE of all time?

3. Do you think he will stay all four years or will he stay 3 and then leave early for the NFL?

4. What do you think his chances are of winning the Mackey Award for being the #1 TE in the land?

 

[sonomairishfan]

good questions:
1. ND has had some really freakin good TE's, especially during the Holtz era. I think he'll be in the conversation of top 5

2. look at answer number 1

3. he seems like the type to stay all 4. i think he could bulk up some before the nfl

4. he has a really good shot to win that award.

 

[notredomer23]

He will win the Mackey award atleast twice.

 

[WabashFalcon]

Twice? I hope so... but man... it's gonna take a SHITTON of luck to get voters to say yes twice.

 

[The Polish Irishman]

I am a Huge Casper Fan...Ghost to the Post..

But Rudy will go down as one of the greats

 

[IHateMarkMay]

If he keeps it up this year he might just win it now. Gresham from OU, is out for the season. He was considered the best TE in the country before the season.

 

[TDHeysus]

I am a Huge Casper Fan...Ghost to the Post..

back when the Raiders were the Raiders....The Raiders were never the same after plunkett went down.

 

[TDHeysus]

1. Best Pass Catching TE, I think yeah. My favorite has always been Derek Brown (casper was before my time)

2. Pass cathing TE, yes.

3. At the end of his 3rd year, he will have alot of pressure to go pro. If Weis is still the coach, there is better chance he stays. IMO....if Weis is gone, he is gone.

4. Barring injury (himself, or if clausen misses significant time), I cant see him not getting it.

 

[dshans]

back when the Raiders were the Raiders....

And The Irish were Ara's.

 

[DirtySecret]

A few questions for you regarding Kyle Rudolph:

1. How do you think he stacks up so far against ND's all-time great TE's?

2. By the end of his career here at ND, do you think he will be the best ND TE of all time?

3. Do you think he will stay all four years or will he stay 3 and then leave early for the NFL?

4. What do you think his chances are of winning the Mackey Award for being the #1 TE in the land?

1. If he can healthy he'll be in the talk as one.

2. Nope. He's not on the level of Irv Smith
YouTube - Irv Smith versus the Hoosiers

3. Depends how far up in the draft he is..

4 Who are all the nominees?

 

[Dizzyphil]

CW is going to have to use him more often for him to win the Mackey award or even win it twice for that matter.


Diz

 

[NDOM]

good questions:
1. ND has had some really freakin good TE's, especially during the Holtz era. I think he'll be in the conversation of top 5

2. look at answer number 1

3. he seems like the type to stay all 4. i think he could bulk up some before the nfl

4. he has a really good shot to win that award.

He's 261 lbs. I dont think he needs to bulk up anymore. The guy is a GIANT if you have seen him in person.

 

[bert2834]

I think he wins the Mackey Award and leaves after his junior year.

 

[jason_h537]

1) like previous posters have said, ND has had some great TE

2) I don't think so but does he have to be to be remembered?

3) i'll worry about him leaving after next year

4) Very good if he stays healthy

 

[Junkhead]

He's 261 lbs. I dont think he needs to bulk up anymore. The guy is a GIANT if you have seen him in person.

As long as he gets stronger and works on blocking, he's big enough! I think he's already a better receiver than Carlson or Fasano, but remembering a few years ago isn't my strength.

 

[irishtrain]

Rudolph

Rudolph

Mackey winner before he leaves, already in top 5 behind McAfee, Casper, Brown and Bavaro, only have him for 1 more year after this season, when he leaves 2nd behind McAfee. Cant top 3 time all america and national championship. Also McAfee was THE go to guy for Montana. This guy caught alot of big play receptions at critical times. This is a great question because Rudolph is awesome and will be a great pro. But Ken McAfee stands alone as the best college tight end I ever saw. He should have won the Heisman when he finished 3rd in '77.

 

[irishtrain]

Ken McAfee

Ken McAfee

Fellows look up this guy and you'll see what I mean. 6'4''255 lbs and could run well for college speed, best blocker at his position ever and never let the ball get to the ground. He's one of Notre Dames all time all time greats. For him not to be mentioned in this discussion is sad cause he is the best that ever played the position in college. If Kyle Rudolph is compared to Ken McAfee in a favorable way (and he is) then he is a special player because Ken McAfee was the standard. Rudolph will be a better pro than McAfee but never a better college player. If he pulls along side McAfee he's in the Hall of Fame.

 

[BGIF]

Mackey winner before he leaves, already in top 5 behind McAfee, Casper, Brown and Bavaro, only have him for 1 more year after this season, when he leaves 2nd behind McAfee. Cant top 3 time all america and national championship. Also McAfee was THE go to guy for Montana. This guy caught alot of big play receptions at critical times. This is a great question because Rudolph is awesome and will be a great pro. But Ken McAfee stands alone as the best college tight end I ever saw. He should have won the Heisman when he finished 3rd in '77.

Only behind MacAfee, Casper, Brown, and Bavaro?

There was a TE named Leon Hart, who wasn't too shabby. Hart played at 6-4, 245, a 3 time All-American, Maxwell Trophy Winner, only lineman ever to win the Heisman, who averaged 15.3 yds/catch and a TD every 4 catches.

MacAfee and Hart are listed #1 TE and #2 TE on the ND All-Time Team.

Rudolph plays in a much more pass oriented system than any of the great ND TEs. He had a better freshman year as many had to play behind better talent than he did. He has potential and the opportunity to become as good or better receiver than all of them. As of now all of them were better blockers.

It's early in his sophomore season, a few weeks ago Floyd was forecast to be ND's greatest WR. Considering his injury and a possible departure to the NFL before 4 full seasons, whether Rudolph will become the #1 TE remains to be seen.

 

[Riddickulous]

In terms of build, speed, and skill, Rudolph has the potential to be better than all of them.

How many times did Ken MacAfee get screens thrown to him in the open field?

 

[JefMaj]

He's BIG. So he has potential to eclipse them all. Problem is: He's only here one more year.

 

[GO IRISH!!!]

Not mentioned among the greats, but Irv Smith was a damn fine TE for the Irish. However, best Irish football name ever belongs to TE Pete Chryplewicz.

 

[NDinL.A.]

He's BIG. So he has potential to eclipse them all. Problem is: He's only here one more year.

The only chance we have at him staying all 4 years is that he really is a great student, and seems to love school. Weis commented early in the fall camp about how professors come up to him all the time about Rudolph and comment on what an outstanding student/person Kyle is. They compare him to former ND TE John Carlson, who my wife knew and she said he was the nicest human being in the world, and a brilliant student besides being an animal on the field. Hopefully his love for learning and ND will overcome his love for the NFL and the $$$/fame. It'll be tough because he'll have agents all over his jock for sure...

 

[irishtrain]

McAfee was also academic All American- as you can see by my profile he's my favorite Irish player. Forgive the plug.

 

[kmoose]

Only behind MacAfee, Casper, Brown, and Bavaro?

There was a TE named Leon Hart, who wasn't too shabby. Hart played at 6-4, 245, a 3 time All-American, Maxwell Trophy Winner, only lineman ever to win the Heisman.

One of only two, actually. The second Heisman award, in 1936, went to an End from Yale, Larry Kelley.

That's not a knock on Hart, though. Of all of the Heismans awarded, to be one of only two linemen ever to recieve the award is amazing, indeed.

 

[BGIF]

McAfee was also academic All American- as you can see by my profile he's my favorite Irish player. Forgive the plug.

No forgiveness necessary. iThose touting Rudolph speed aren't aware that MacAfee ad the hands and speed of a WR. He started out at ND as a freshman WR but injuries at TE necessitated his move him to TE.

 

[BGIF]

One of only two, actually. The second Heisman award, in 1936, went to an End from Yale, Larry Kelley.

That's not a knock on Hart, though. Of all of the Heismans awarded, to be one of only two linemen ever to recieve the award is amazing, indeed.

Thanks for setting the record straight.