Three from Notre Dame named top 100 players of the 2022 college football season
Michael Mayer and Brock Bowers each have been recognized as the nation’s best tight end in some capacity. Bowers, the Georgia star, won the Mackey Award. Mayer, the most statistically impressive tight end in Notre Dame history, is this year’s consensus All-American at tight end.
Both are worthy of recognition as the best at their position. Mayer has added another supporter, though.
ESPN’s list of the top 100 college football players of 2022 has Mayer as the top tight end and No. 11 regardless of position, three spots ahead of Bowers. Two other Notre Dame teammates joined him: sophomore offensive tackle Joe Alt (No. 19 overall) and senior defensive end Isaiah Foskey (No. 35).
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Mayer leads all FBS tight ends in touchdowns (9), is second in catches (69) and fourth in yards (809). Bowers passed him in yards during Monday’s national championship game.
“There is no disputing how good Mayer has been for the Irish,” ESPN’s capsule on Mayer reads. “Just look on the program’s website, which called him, ‘The Best tight end in Notre Dame History.’ Mayer is exactly what you want in a tight end: a ferocious blocker who presents a huge matchup advantage for the Irish because he is an elite pass-catcher.”
Alt appeared on four of the five NCAA-recognized All-America teams, earning first-team honors from the Associated Press. He allowed 0 sacks and just 8 pressures in 13 starts this year, per Pro Football Focus. His 91.4 overall PFF grade leads all FBS tackles with at least 500 snaps. He also owns the highest run-blocking grade (91.0). His pass-blocking mark (81.7) is 23rd. He is the third-highest ranked offensive lineman on ESPN’s top 100, behind Northwestern’s Peter Skoronski and Ohio State’s Paris Johnson Jr.
“Alt was Pro Football Focus’ top-graded offensive tackle during the regular season, when he allowed just five pressures and no sacks,” ESPN’s capsule reads. “He was the veteran anchor on one of the nation’s top O-lines, which allowed just 19 sacks all year.”
Foskey, also a consensus All-American, is tied for fifth nationally in sacks (11) and 28th in tackles for loss (14). He added 45 tackles and 1 forced fumble. He is the No. 3 EDGE on ESPN’s list, behind Alabama’s Will Anderson Jr. (No. 8) and Clemson’s Myles Murphy (No. 33).
“Foskey led the Irish with 14 tackles for loss and six quarterback hurries,” ESPN wrote. “He played two of his best games against North Carolina (5 tackles, 1.5 sacks) and USC (5 tackles, 1.5 sacks).”
Foskey and Mayer declared for the NFL Draft before Notre Dame played in the Gator Bowl.
