Chris

Tyree

Filling in for running back Kyren Williams, who opted out of the Fiesta Bowl to prepare for the 2022 NFL Draft, Tyree (5'9/188) contributed to Notre Dame’s passing game in a big way. His highlight play of the day came on a 53-yard passing touchdown that came by way of a catch-and-run after a short dump off pass from quarterback Jack Coan resulted in Tyree running 40+ yards to the house. Tyree would go on to catch five more passes on the day for Notre Dame, who threw an unprecedented 68 times on the afternoon. Tyree will likely be looking for a bigger role in 2022, and finishes his 2021 season with 56 carries for 222 yards and one touchdown, while adding another 24 receptions for 258 yards and two touchdowns through the air.

Tyree (5'9/188) was injured during Notre Dame’s win over Virginia Tech, and was considered to be a game-time decision Saturday night. The freshman will sit, leaving the Fighting Irish with one less option behind starter Kyren Williams.

Tyree (5'10/188) was a highly-touted prospect rated as the top all-purpose back in the country and 70th overall recruit from the 2020 class. An excellent athlete, he ran a verified 4.38 second 40-yard dash and possesses a 38-inch vertical. Though Kyren Williams is the entrenched starter, Tyree has been working in with the first team and is expected to play a large role in the ND rushing attack this season. He was very effective on a per-carry basis, rushing 72 times for 501 yards, 7.0 YPC and four touchdowns, breaking off 15 rushes of 10+ yards, as 21 percent of his carries last year went for double-digit gains, an elite mark. Tyree will look to pick up where he left off in 2020 when ND travels to play Florida State on Sunday, September 5.

Tyree did almost all of his damage on one play, but what a play it was. With Notre Dame looking to run out the clock and a 38-14 lead, Tyree showed off his impressive speed with a 94-yard scamper. A five-star recruit, Tyree hasn’t been the breakout star for Notre Dame -- that’s been Kyren Williams -- but he’s shown more than enough flashes to suggest his future is very bright. He’ll be the backup to Williams in the ACC title game.

Tyree -- a five-star recruit in some circles -- is getting more and more involved in this offense, and you have to like his chances for success behind this NFL-esque offensive line. The 5-foot-9, 179-pound tailback extended Notre Dame’s lead with a 45-yard run that showed off his 4.36 timed speed. Tyree is playing behind Tyren Williams, but Notre Dame is going to to keep getting Tyree touches because of course they are. His next chance comes next Saturday against Louisville.

Notre Dame returns a lot of talent, but one of the major question marks for the Fighting Irish -- as Sampson notes -- is at tailback. Speights transferred into South Bend near the end of May, and while the 5-foot-11, 203-pound tailback had been mostly a bit-part player for Stanford, there’s certainly an opportunity for him to play right away this fall. Sampson also mentions that Jafar Armstrong likely begins the year as the starter, and mentions five-star APB Chris Tyree offering speed that Notre Dame hasn’t had at the tailback position. This could be a committee approach, and Speights should be a part of that committee right away.

Unofficial times at these types of events are all over the place, but Tyree (5'9/178) has run an official sub-4.40 time before. The four-star commit has star power as an explosive runner and “dangerous pass catcher” with slot potential. Notre Dame’s running back depth chart isn’t as deep as you’d expect, so Tyree could be a contributor as a freshman in 2020.

Tyree (5'9/178) opted in with Notre Dame over fellow finalists Alabama and Oklahoma. While he lacks for size and bulk -- he shouldn’t be viewed as a traditional “workhorse” -- the Chester, Virginia, native has a verified 40-yard dash time of 4.38 seconds and accelerates in the blink of an eye, with an elite ability to cut and change direction. 247Sports analyst Brian Dohn notes that Tyree is also a "[d]angerous pass catcher who can line up in slot.” On the 247Sports composite board, Tyree ranks as the No. 29 overall prospect in the 2020 class. While the Irish have yet to land a five-star recruit for the cycle, they are now knocking on the door of a top-five class. 247Sports has them just outside at No. 6 following Tyree’s pledge.

The South Bend Tribune’s Carter Karels came out with a similar sentiment last week. Tyree (5'9/178) won’t keep us waiting for much longer, as he will be announcing his pledge on Thursday. Oklahoma and Alabama are also in the joust for the Chester, Virginia, native. He brings all kinds of quicks, agility and burst to the table while ranking as Rivals’ No. 60 overall prospect in the 2020 class.

Tyree (5'9/178) is also seriously considering Oklahoma -- probably the main hurdle for Notre Dame -- and Alabama. The Chester, Virginia, native will be announcing his pledge on May 23. He brings to the table elite speed and cutting ability, as well as plus receiving chops. Without added weight on his diminutive frame, he may never develop into a true three-down back, but his versatility and burst are all kinds of intriguing. On the 247Sports composite board, Tyree ranks as the No. 29 overall prospect in the 2020 class. Very much a borderline five-star talent.