Notre Dame spring depth chart preview: Tight ends

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With Notre Dame beginning spring practice this month, we're previewing each Irish unit leading up to March 16. Today, it's a group that's looking to re-start the "Tight End U" legacy in South Bend (each player's 2016 status listed in parentheses). 

Depth chart

1. Durham Smythe (RS Junior)

2. Alize Jones (Sophomore)

2A. Nic Weishar (RS Sophomore)

Overview

Smythe should enter spring running with the first-team offense, but consider this a fairly open competition for playing time between these three players. 

Smythe is the most well-rounded player of the group but, by virtue of the shoulder and knee injuries he suffered early last season, hasn’t played a whole lot. Still, he’s regarded as a solid in-line blocker with good hands and is entering his fourth year in the program.

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Jones flashed his outstanding athleticism at times last year — like his 45-yard reception against Temple that set up DeShone Kizer’s game-winning touchdown to Will Fuller — and has the highest ceiling of these three players. If he can improve as an in-line blocker in Year 2, he’ll carve out a larger role in the Irish offense. 

Weishar has looked impressive at times as a pass-catcher, but as is the case for most tight ends in Notre Dame’s system has to improve as a blocker to unlock that receiving potential. 

Tyler Luatua, who was Notre Dame's best blocking tight end, announced his transfer to BYU earlier this year. In two years with the program, though, Luatua didn't record a reception. 

Outlook

The low-pressure nature of spring practice should be a good opportunity for these three players to improve, especially Jones and Weishar, in advance of preseason camp in August. Ideally, either Jones or Weishar grows to the point where they're reliable enough to be a No. 2 tight end alongside Smythe. With an offensive line experiencing loads of turnover, the ability to run the ball with two tight ends could help mitigate any growing pains up front.

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Jones has excellent receiving skills that could benefit Notre Dame in the red zone, too, an area in which Kizer & Co. struggled at times in 2015. 

Incoming freshmen

Notre Dame didn’t sign a tight end in its 2016 recruiting class, though there’s the possibility that 6-foot-5, 215-pound Abbotsford, British Columbia native Chase Claypool could outgrow wide receiver and slide to tight end. The Irish do have two four-star tight ends verbally committed to its 2017 recruiting class: Cole Kmet (Arlington Heights, Ill.) and Brock Wright (Cypress, Texas). 

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