Mitchell Evans breaks down shift in mentality as starting tight end

Spring practice is underway for Notre Dame, and per usual, many eyes are focused on the tight end position. Notre Dame is tasked with replacing their leading receiver and All-American tight end Michael Mayer, and Mitchell Evans may be the answer. Evans got a taste of being TE1 when Mayer forwent the Gator Bowl, and spoke about how that experience prepped him for the upcoming season.

“Going into that game coach Parker was telling us the whole room’s gotta step up, because when a great player like Mike leaves it’s still tight end U, you’ve got to keep that standard up. And for me I kind of knew that I was going in there, I was gonna be number one and I had to mentally prepare for that,” Evans said.

Evans didn’t have a single catch last season until the bowl game, which he ended with three catches for 39 yards and a go-ahead touchdown catch with less than two minutes remaining in the game that ended up securing the Fighting Irish win.

“I took on that role, I challenged it, and I feel like I did a good enough job upholding that standard, kind of gain momentum into this year,” Evans said. “It’s good for everybody, even Holden (Staes), Holden took a great role in that game and he kind of build some momentum going into the spring, going into the fall so it’s gonna be a good year for us.”

Filling the shoes of Mayer is a tall task not only in matching his production, but his role as one of the leaders of the team. Thankfully, this is a role that Evans embraces, as he opened up about his growth this offseason as a leader.

“Going into this offseason or even going into the Gator Bowl, I knew I kind of had to be the leader of the room because I feel like I had the most on the field experience going into that,” Evans said. “Me and Kev (Kevin Bauman) have kind of taken on that role of being the leaders, being vocal, in workouts being loud, being physical, trying to lead everybody or get everybody energized. Be pumped and bring the mood a little bit when it’s six in the morning we’re working out, it’s raining.”

It sounds like Evans is comfortable in his new role as a leader, as he looks to continue to uphold the high standard set by the many Notre Dame tight ends that have come before him.

“You gotta step up because you’re in that role again, you have to be. So it’s been fun, it’s been great, I’m not shying away, I’m attacking it every day so it’s been great. I felt like it was comfortable for me kind of stepping in that role because in high school I played quarterback, like Sam (Hartman) and (Tyler) Buckner, they’re in that leadership role so I thought that was kind of natural for me to step in there.