Where Notre Dame TE Michael Mayer stands on all-time Irish receptions list

Notre Dame junior tight end Michel Mayer has a legitimate shot at finishing his college career with the second-most receptions of any player in Notre Dame football history. He’s 22 away, and he has four or five games to get there.

Mayer grabbed possession of solo fifth in that statistical category with the first of his 3 catches for 54 yards in the Fighting Irish’s win over Syracuse on Oct. 29. He passed Golden Tate (2007-09) and Tom Gatewood (1969-71), both of whom are tied with 157 career receptions. Through Week 9, Mayer has 160 and counting.

Next on the list for Mayer to pass is Rhema McKnight (170 receptions from 2002-06).

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Michael Floyd (2008-11) holds a record that might not be broken for a long, long time — if ever. He caught 271 passes in his career. Second on the all-time list is Floyd’s former teammate, T.J. Jones (2010-13), with 181 career receptions. Mayer only needs to average 5.5 receptions in the final four regular season games or 4.4 with possible bowl game to slide into second all-time. If he gets there, Mayer will also pass Jeff Samardzija (179 receptions from 2003-06), who currently ranks third.

Most receptions in a Notre Dame career, all-time

1. Michael Floyd	(2008-11)	271
2. T.J. Jones	(2010-13)	181
3. Jeff Samardzija	(2003-06)	179
4. Rhema McKnight	(2002-06)	170
5. Michael Mayer	(2020-current)	160

The most impressive part of Mayer’s methodical rise through the Notre Dame record book is that he’s done it with several quarterbacks throwing him the ball. In 2020, it was Notre Dame all-time wins leader Ian Book. In 2021, it was a mix of Wisconsin graduate transfer Jack Coan, then true freshman Tyler Buchner and then-sophomore Drew Pyne. This year, it was Buchner until he was injured and has been Pyne ever since. It doesn’t matter who’s taking snaps behind center for the Irish. Mayer is inevitable.

All four of the players ahead of Mayer on the all-time receptions list played at least four seasons. Mayer is on pace to rank second all-time in just three seasons assuming he foregoes his senior year to enter the 2023 NFL Draft. Considering his status as a potential first-round pick, that’s just about a forgone conclusion.

Three years of Mayer catching passes in blue and gold has certainly been a treat.