Only One Is Irish - Ben Koyack

[BGIF]

Ten Freshmen Who Could Contribute Early

Barton Simmons
247

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Ben Koyack, TE, Notre Dame
In his first full year recruiting for the Fighting Irish, Brian Kelly did an outstanding job of addressing needs with elite prospects. He may be also be changing the style of player that Notre Dame recruits, because Kelly placed an emphasis on toughness in this class.

Because of that success addressing needs, Notre Dame has a number of potential impact players from the 2011 class. Defensive linemen Aaron Lynch and Stephon Tuitt and outside linebacker Ishaq Williams could play early. But while defense was a major priority in this class, Kelly is an offensive mind. Additionally, one of Notre Dame's biggest offensive weapons is gone in tight end Kyle Rudolph.

With Rudolph departing for the NFL and very little behind him as far as proven options, Koyack will have a terrific opportunity to get in the mix early and often for what should be a high-powered Notre Dame offense. At 6-5, 230 pounds, the Under Armour All-American is physically ready - and he will need to be.

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I agree Ben is talented enough to play as a freshman. But the statement about little behind him (Rudolph) as proven options, NO!

As a freshman Rudolph started since Opening Day. First time a freshman had done that at ND.
'08 29 catches, 340 yds, 2 TD
'09 33 catches, 364 yds, 3 TD
'10 28 catches, 328 yds, 3 TD

As a freshman ('09) Tyler Eifert played Opening Day as a freshman without a catch. He reinjured his back and did not play the rest of the season.

'10 27 catches, 352 yds, 2 TDs

Eifert's production AFTER Rudolph was out for the season was as good as any of Rudolph's 3 seasons. Eifert started 9 games last season but Crist didn't recognize him on the field until after Rudloph was lost. Eifert is one of the prime reasons for ND's turnaround.

No, he didn't break on for 95 yds. But then neither did MacAfee, Casper, Bavaro, Lujack, Hunter, Brown, Fasano, or Carlson. Eifert did have a 39 yd TD reception.

Koyack may beat out Welch (who we haven't seen yet in Div 1) for PT and he may get some of Ragone's time but I think he's got his work cut out to move ahead of either of them without the benefit of Spring Ball and I don't see him displacing Eifert like Rudolph did to Reuland.

Prove me wrong Ben.

 

[Riddickulous]

Tyler Eifert will start in 2011, and probably beyond, possibly to the end of his career in 2013.

 

[BGIF]

Tyler Eifert will start in 2011, and probably beyond, possibly to the end of his career in 2013.

Could be.

But with a year of Div 1 conditioning and I think Koyack will be on equal footing.

What a great problem for a HC and a Position Coach to have to deal with.

 

[Riddickulous]

Could be.

But with a year of Div 1 conditioning and I think Koyack will be on equal footing.

What a great problem for a HC and a Position Coach to have to deal with.

Probably going to see some pretty good two tight end sets in the future.

 

[Dizzyphil]

Ten Freshmen Who Could Contribute Early

I agree Ben is talented enough to play as a freshman. But the statement about little behind him (Rudolph) as proven options, NO!

As a freshman Rudolph started since Opening Day. First time a freshman had done that at ND.
'08 29 catches, 340 yds, 2 TD
'09 33 catches, 364 yds, 3 TD
'10 28 catches, 328 yds, 3 TD

As a freshman ('09) Tyler Eifert played Opening Day as a freshman without a catch. He reinjured his back and did not play the rest of the season.

'10 27 catches, 352 yds, 2 TDs

Eifert's production AFTER Rudolph was out for the season was as good as any of Rudolph's 3 seasons. Eifert started 9 games last season but Crist didn't recognize him on the field until after Rudloph was lost. Eifert is one of the prime reasons for ND's turnaround.

Totally agree, Eifert stepped into some big shoes and proved (at least to me and many others) he was very capable of being a starter anywhere in the league!!!

Diz

 

[NDinFL]

Could be.

But with a year of Div 1 conditioning and I think Koyack will be on equal footing.

What a great problem for a HC and a Position Coach to have to deal with.

BGIF hits the nail on the head as usual.
our potential talent at TE could be flat out scary good, and if Koyack can step up and challenge for PT then all the better!

 

[BGIF]

Probably going to see some pretty good two tight end sets in the future.

I don't know what 2 TE sets does to Kelly's Spread but without a FB, 2 TEs helped the running game in the last few games.

I also like the potential for either of ND's 4 big TE's to slip a block at the goal line and cross in front of the posts or head for the corner. Also fake a handoff into the line and roll out the QB with a 6-6 guy running parallel back at the end line. Lots of possibilities.

Welch is probably the slowest of the bunch, more of a Holtz TE, 4.9ish speed. The other 3 strike me as WRs in BIG bodies.

 

[irishff1014]

Eifert will have to play good. If he slacks off he will lose his spot in a hurry. We need our tight ends to be awesome in the red zone.

 

[NeuteredDoomer]

Classic tight end position seems obsolete under Kelly system.

 

[Old Man Mike]

I was worried when Rudolph went down, but watching Eifert---wow! This guy is a major league threat. AND he can stretch the field as a big man. If he loses his job to someone this year, that person must be the second coming of Dave Casper. I envision times when a second tight end is in the game and the defense sees Eifert split, and bamboozled into to putting a small man on him, and a TD muscle-fight in the endzone occurs 30 yards later. Eifert is going to kick a bunch of teams' butts. [I was actually surprised that Ragone was readily granted his fifth year because of how good Eifert looked, but Kelly must not yet be convinced by Welch].

 

[Praytorian]

Maybe not, with the multiple tight end you might want 3 legit TE's incase of injury and right now ragone might be better than Welch but not in 3 years... just sayin.

Go Irish

 

[Irish Man3]

I still really like Alex Welch. I don't think anyone challenges Eifert for the starting spot this year but I think it will be an interesting battle behind him. Every scouting agency in the country seems to be high Koyack so it will be interesting to see how fast he gets the system and becomes productive.

 

[Veer option]

It will be exciting to see this kid on the field.