Listed measurements: 5-foot-9 ½, 192 pounds.
2023-24 year, eligibility: A senior, Tyree has two seasons of eligibility remaining thanks to the universal pandemic eligibility waiver.
Depth Chart: Tyree should be Notre Dame’s starting slot receiver, at least to begin preseason practices. Moving him from running back was an attempt to keep his speed on the field, and that is best done if he is starting.
Recruiting: When Tyree committed to the Irish in May of 2019, he was then considered the No. 1 all-purpose running back in the class, choosing Notre Dame over Oklahoma and Alabama along with just about every powerhouse in the country. By the end of the cycle, the consensus four-star had fallen to be the No. 4 running back in the class, per rivals.com, and the No. 78 overall prospect, rankings good enough to make him the second-highest running back recruit of the Brian Kelly era. (The late Greg Bryant ranked No. 19 overall in the class of 2013.)
CAREER TO DATE
Tyree’s raw speed — touted as sub-4.4 seconds in the 40-yard dash when he committed to the Irish — has always mandated he gets playing time, beginning as a freshman supplementing Kyren Williams’s breakout season. Tyree’s receiving abilities furthered his role in 2021, but his career highlight remains his kickoff return that effectively beat Wisconsin in a top-20 matchup early in the 2021 season.
2020: 12 games; 73 rushes for 496 yards and four touchdowns; eight catches for 65 yards; 456 kickoff return yards.
2021: 12 games, two starts; 56 rushes for 222 yards and one touchdown; 24 catches for 257 yards and two touchdowns; 347 kickoff return yards including a 96-yard touchdown return to spark the blowout of Wisconsin in late September.
2022: 13 games; 100 rushes for 444 yards and three touchdowns; 24 catches for 138 yards and two touchdowns; 254 kickoff return yards.
CHRIS TYREE COAST TO COAST☘️#CFB
— PFF College (@PFF_College) September 25, 2021
pic.twitter.com/o3AV7NFIsg
QUOTES
Tyree is not dabbling at receiver. He will not, barring any drastic depth chart need, toggle back and forth between receiver and running back. He moved positions.
“I’ve had a lot of fun, had my ups and downs for sure, but I understand that is part of the process,” Tyree said in the spring.
His experience at running back, though, should help Tyree. If Notre Dame can get the ball in his hands with forward momentum, good things should happen.
“It helps me after the catch, taking different angles, making people miss in space,” he said. “... Being able to work in space, I feel like that’s the part I like the most, having so much space out there, being able to use a little bit more creativity, having a plan with my route running.”
Tyree was critical of some of his fundamentals, saying he still had plenty to learn, but that was as much a reflection of his maturity as anything else.
“He is miles ahead of what any of us thought,” receivers coach Chansi Stuckey said. “He’s actually pretty natural playing the wide receiver position.
“Learning how to catch the ball is different now. I gave him examples of when I was at Clemson as a quarterback moving to receiver, so I know the things he’s going through. I was used to seeing everything in front of me, now everything is behind me as I turn my back to the defense. What do I do and how do I catch it to knife forward? And after we had that talk, he has adjusted so well, and he’s embraced it and he loves it.”
WHAT WAS PROJECTED A YEAR AGO
“Last year, honing in on a prediction for Tyree’s 2021 output provided an angle for this 99-to-0 entry, but doing so now could simply turn into an exercise of demeaning the rest of Notre Dame’s offense. Tyree and junior tight end Michael Mayer are the only pieces of the Irish attack that are known commodities, and the injuries to (Logan) Diggs and (Jadarian) Price have made it clear, Tyree may need to be a bellcow for Notre Dame, always a risky proposition for any running back, let alone a speed-based running back.
“Tyree has more physicality than his speed belies, but his best asset is still his ability to burn down the sideline. Turf toe last season cost him that explosiveness for a bit, just as a sprained ankle did this spring. Nicks impede any running back, but they slow speed backs the most.
“A healthy Tyree could blow past 1,200 yards from scrimmage next season. A banged-up Tyree could struggle to roll past 700.
“But the Irish will need him healthy. Offensive coordinator Tommy Rees seems poised to attack with a vintage offensive line this season, something that will always be Rees’ underlying preference, though one indulged only when applicable. With just (Audric) Estimé to join Tyree as an established back heading into the season, that approach from Rees will wear on the duo.
“Notre Dame could slow down its offense to ease that burden a bit, and against the Buckeyes in particular, shortening the game will be prudent for the Irish, but that can be effective to only an extent.
“Tyree will get plenty of opportunities this season. If healthy and spry, that could turn into a prolific year. His injuries have not been the kind to justify concerns about his durability, but the injuries to other Irish running backs do justify concerns about anyone’s durability in the pivotal role Notre Dame needs Tyree to fill this year.”
HE GONE 💨
— Notre Dame on NBC (@NDonNBC) December 5, 2020
Chris Tyree takes it to the house! pic.twitter.com/2K8Lu8eNRb
2023 OUTLOOK
Tyree initially struggled to adjust to catching the ball from that different angle in spring practices, but repetition sparked progress which now leads to anticipation. Lorenzo Styles’s switch to cornerback, before eventually transferring to Ohio State, was another signal that Tyree had found success at his new position. An undermanned room at receiver, the Irish would not have considered moving Styles if a newcomer had not found such traction.
Assuming catching the football becomes a usual reality, then Tyree’s speed is undeniable.
So is Wake Forest transfer quarterback Sam Hartman’s ability to use it. Hartman has touch downfield that helped turn a couple undersized Demon Deacon receivers into prolific players. Both Ke’Shawn Williams and Taylor Morin are listed at 5-foot-10. Across the last two seasons, they combined for 2,153 yards and 18 touchdowns on 156 catches, an average of 13.8 yards per catch. Divide those totals by four (two players, two seasons each) and you get an average season of 538 yards and five touchdowns on 39 catches.
That may seem an unorthodox way to put together a prediction for Tyree’s first year at receiver, but it may be underselling his possibilities. He has more speed than Williams or Morin. If Hartman can find Tyree with an angle, opposing defenses will pay the price.
Absolute dime from Sam Hartman to Chris Tyree. (Video via @NDFootball) pic.twitter.com/Z1s36bKHO5
— Tyler Horka (@tbhorka) April 16, 2023
DOWN THE ROAD
Tyree’s drill testing will assure him of an NFL look, whenever he takes that leap. A 30-inch vertical and GPS-recorded speeds that most of us would struggle to reach on a bike are things that NFL front offices will take a chance on.
But if Tyree finds moderate success at receiver this season, a second year of pass-catching could raise his draft profile. Two years of receiver tape will leave a much better impression than just one.
Such an incredible trip in Ireland this week!! @AerLingus @TourismIreland
— Chris Tyree (@chris_tyree4) March 16, 2023
Thank you so much!! ☘️ pic.twitter.com/palTbv20kG
NOTRE DAME 99-TO-0
The summer countdown begins anew, Rylie Mills to Deion Colzie
No. 99 Rylie Mills, senior defensive tackle, moving back inside from end
No. 98 Devan Houstan, early-enrolled four-star defensive tackle
No. 97 Gabriel Rubio, junior defensive tackle, one of three Irish DTs with notable experience
No. 95 Tyson Ford, sophomore defensive tackle, up 30 pounds from a year ago
No. 93 Armel Mukam, incoming freshman defensive end, former Stanford commit
No. 92 Aidan Keanaaina, a senior defensive tackle now ‘fully healthy’ after a 2022 torn ACL
No. 91 Aiden Gobaira, sophomore defensive end, former four-star recruit
No. 88 Mitchell Evans, the next starter at ‘TE U
No. 87 Cooper Flanagan, incoming freshman tight end, four-star recruit
No. 84 Kevin Bauman, senior tight end coming off a torn ACL
No. 83 Jayden Thomas, junior receiver, probable No. 1 target in 2023
No. 79 Tosh Baker, senior tackle, again a backup but next year ...
No. 78 Pat Coogan, junior interior offensive lineman
No. 77 Ty Chan, sophomore offensive tackle, former four-star recruit
No. 76 Joe Alt, first-team All-American left tackle
No. 75 Sullivan Absher, incoming freshman offensive lineman
No. 74 Billy Schrauth, sophomore left guard, likely starter
No. 73 Andrew Kristofic, fifth-year right guard, likely starter
No. 72 Sam Pendelton, early-enrolled freshman offensive lineman
No. 70 Ashton Craig, sophomore interior offensive lineman
No. 68 Michael Carmody, senior offensive lineman
No. 65 Michael Vinson, sixth-year long snapper, four-year starter
No. 64 Joe Otting, incoming freshman offensive lineman, four-star recruit
No. 59 Aamil Wagner, sophomore offensive tackle
No. 56 Charles Jagusah, incoming freshman offensive lineman, four-star recruit
No. 56 Howard Cross, fifth-year defensive tackle, multi-year starter
No. 55 Chris Terek, incoming freshman offensive lineman, four-star recruit
No. 54 Blake Fisher, junior right tackle, second-year starter
No. 52 Zeke Correll, fifth-year center, third-year starter
No. 51 Boubacar Traore, incoming freshman defensive end, four-star recruit
No. 50 Rocco Spindler, junior offensive guard
No. 47 Jason Onye, junior defensive tackle on the verge of playing time
No. 44 Junior Tuihalamaka, sophomore defensive end, former linebacker
No. 42 Nolan Ziegler, sophomore linebacker, Irish legacy
No. 41 Donovan Hinish, sophomore defensive tackle following in his brother’s footsteps
No. 40 Joshua Burnham, sophomore linebacker-turned-Vyper end
No. 38 Davis Sherwood, junior fullback/H-back, former walk-on
No. 34 Drayk Bowen, early-enrolled freshman linebacker, baseball infielder
No. 32 Spencer Shrader, South Florida transfer kicker
No. 31 Nana Osafo-Mensah, fifth-year defensive end
No. 29 Christian Gray, early-enrolled freshman cornerback coming off a knee injury
No. 29 Matt Salerno, sixth-year receiver, former walk-on
No. 27 JD Bertrand, fifth-year linebacker, third-year starter, possible captain
No. 25 Preston Zinter, early-enrolled freshman linebacker, subtle recruiting win
No. 24 Jack Kiser, fifth-year linebacker, third-year starter, most efficient defender
No. 24 Jadarian Price, sophomore RB, reportedly recovered from an Achilles injury
No. 23 Jaiden Ausberry, early-enrolled freshman linebacker, four-star recruit
No. 22 Ben Minich, early-enrolled freshman safety, four-star recruit
No. 22 Jeremiyah Love, incoming freshman running back, four-star recruit
No. 21 Adon Shuler, early-enrolled freshman safety coming off shoulder surgery
No. 20 Benjamin Morrison, sophomore cornerback, preseason All-American
No. 19 Jaden Greathouse, early-enrolled freshman receiver, Blue-Gold Game star
No. 18 Steve Angeli, sophomore quarterback, competing for the backup role
No. 18 Chance Tucker, junior cornerback
No. 17 Brenan Vernon, incoming freshman defensive end, four-star recruit
No. 17 Rico Flores Jr., early-enrolled freshman receiver, four-star recruit
No. 16 Micah Bell, incoming freshman cornerback, speedy four-star recruit
No. 15 Ryan Barnes, junior cornerback
No. 14 Bryce McFerson, sophomore punter facing a challenge for a second straight year
No. 14 Braylon James, early-enrolled freshman receiver, four-star recruit
No. 13 Holden Staes, sophomore tight end, up 20 pounds in a year
No. 13 Thomas Harper, Oklahoma State graduate transfer safety/nickel back
No. 12 Penn State RB transfer Devyn Ford gives Notre Dame newly-needed backfield depth, experience
No. 12 Jordan Botelho, senior Vyper defensive end
No. 11 KK Smith, incoming freshman receiver, speedster
No. 11 Ramon Henderson, senior safety
No. 10 Sam Hartman, Wake Forest graduate transfer quarterback, QB1
No. 9 Eli Raridon, sophomore tight end coming off a second ACL tear
No. 8 Kenny Minchey, early-enrolled freshman quarterback, former Pittsburgh commit
No. 8 Marist Liufau, fifth-year linebacker, second season as a starter
No. 7 Audric Estimé, junior running back, bellcow, workhorse
No. 7 Jaden Mickey, sophomore cornerback coming off big and small life lessons
No. 6 Clarence Lewis, senior cornerback with more experience than most realize
No. 5 Tobias Merriweather, sophomore receiver subject to lofty comparisons
No. 5 Cam Hart, fifth-year cornerback, coming off another shoulder injury
No. 4 Rhode Island transfer safety Antonio Carter gives Notre Dame desperately needed backline depth
No. 3 Jaylen Sneed, sophomore linebacker coming off a notable role in the Gator Bowl
No. 3 Gi’Bran Payne, sophomore running back
No. 2 DJ Brown, sixth-year safety, possible two-year starter