Notre Dame TE Mitchell Evans out for Week 3 vs. Central Michigan
Notre Dame junior tight end Mitchell Evans is out for Saturday’s game against Central Michigan, the Irish’s public relations team announced approximately one hour before kickoff.
Graduate student linebacker JD Bertrand, as Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman announced Thursday, is also out. Bertrand and Evans were seen on the field pregame, jogging together from sideline to sideline.
The reason for Evans’ unavailability is unknown.
Evans had started all three games so far this season for Notre Dame, totaling 5 receptions for 63 yards. Three of his receptions came on back-to-back-to-back plays in Week 1 against Tennessee State, on a two-minute drill that ended with a touchdown to sophomore tight end Holden Staes at the end of the first half.
Staes will likely start in Evans’ place. Junior Davis Sherwood is the only remaining tight end on the depth chart, while freshman Cooper Flanagan has played all three games on special teams and in two of them on offense. Sophomore Eli Raridon has been unavailable as he works his way back from ACL surgery in 2022.
Freeman ruled Raridon doubtful for Week 3 during his press conference Monday. He dressed and went through warmups, but he had done so in the first three games as well.
Evans rarely comes off the field for Notre Dame. In fact, he has played 10 more snaps this season than graduate quarterback Sam Hartman (158 to 148). The junior leads all non-offensive linemen in snaps this season, according to Pro Football Focus.
PFF has Evans at a 60.0 grade this season, including a 63.3 grade as a run blocker. He lines up as an in-line tight end as well as in the slot when Notre Dame spreads out its formation.
Notre Dame offensive coordinator Gerad Parker was asked Tuesday what Evans brings to the table that earned the amount of snaps he’s played.
“One, knowledge base, certainly that,” Parker said. “But then you would say, let’s be fair, his body type and who he is as a player and his skill set allows him to play on the line of scrimmage and in space, that’s a unique quality. I think that’s allowed him to do both, because if you watch him fit the run and what he has done in three games, just going back and what he has done in the run fit, it’s pretty remarkable.”
Staes broke out in Week 2 against North Carolina State, catching 4 passes for 115 yards and 2 touchdowns.
“[Staes] adds a big element to the pass game,” Freeman said after the game. “We’ve known Holden’s been a tremendous pass threat.”
