Story by
Roundtable Sports
Marcus Freeman Likes What He Sees From The Unproven Tight Ends
- Story byRoundtable Sports
- Marcus Freeman Likes What He Sees From The Unproven Tight Ends
(Angela Driskell, Irish Breakdown)
Notre Dame has developed a reputation for putting out productive tight ends year after year, which is what helped the program earn the moniker "Tight End U." The Irish face a tough challenge in 2026, as they not only have to replace the starting tight end for a second straight season, they have to do it with a group that lacks proven production.
Despite the lack of production, Notre Dame does return a talented six-man tight end room, which includes the return of Cooper Flanagan, who was supposed to be a major factor last season. An injury he suffered late in 2024 kept Flanagan from getting back in 2025, but he's expected to be a major factor in 2026, especially in the run game.
Advertisement
"It's great to have Coop back, we needed Coop back," head coach Marcus Freemansaid of his senior tight end. "He brings an element. There's an element in the pass game, but he brings an edge, he brings a toughness. He brings a physicality that we need in that room."
Flanagan played over 420 snaps during his first two seasons at Notre Dame, and those snaps were a result of what he added in the run game. If you want an example of the impact Flanagan brings to the table, go watch Jeremiyah Love's 98-yard touchdown run in the College Football Playoff victory over Indiana. Flanagan dominated the Indiana safety, opening up a wide run lane for the star back to run through.
Freeman made clear that Flanagan will be a major part of the tight end rotation, which was expected. Behind him are more question marks, and the Irish need someone to step into the void.
"Somebody's got to emerge now .... we've got to see somebody emerge," Freeman said, while listing James Flanigan, Ty Washingtonand Jack Larsenas players battling to get into the mix. "We're not going to be 13 personnel, maybe in the goal line, but how do we continue to develop these guys and see who's the most consistent at what we're going to need them to do.
Advertisement
"I love the depth in the room, but we've got to figure out who we can rely on consistently," concluded the Irish head coach.
Expect to see run blocking from the tight end room improve with the return of Flanagan and the presence of James Flanigan, a talented redshirt freshman. The pass game is a different question, as the tight ends have combined for just 13 career catches while wearing Irish uniforms.
The returners will have to raise their performance in the pass game, but an incoming freshman is a player to keep an eye on in the pass game. That would be Kansas native Ian Premer, a five-star recruit that brings playmaking talent to the roster. Premer arrived this summer, and he's already caught the attention of Irish coaches and teammates.
"He looks like, he looks ready," Freeman said of the first-year tight end. "I haven't seen him with pads on, I ain't seen him put a his face [into a defender], but he's smart, he looks ready. He's going to have to continue to grow into this body that he has and be able to function with it, but it'll be interesting to see him at fall camp. But I like what I've seen so far."
Advertisement
It's clear the Irish have the talent to thrive at the position, but fall camp will be about the Irish tight ends end the potential conversation and turn it to more of a what they are doing conversation.
———————
Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more.
Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time!
Join the Irish Breakdown community!
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channel
Subscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes
Follow me on Twitter: @CoachD178
Like and follow Irish Breakdown on Facebook
