Notre Dame reveals award winners from 2022 Echoes banquet

Michael Mayer earned one of the country’s most coveted individual awards Thursday when he became a consensus All-American. He added one of the highest honors a Notre Dame player can receive from the team Friday night.

The NFL Draft-bound junior tight end was named team MVP Friday night at The Echoes banquet, the program’s annual awards dinner. Ten other Irish players also earned individual honors. Here’s a look at each award winner.

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MVP, Offensive Player of the Year: Tight end Michael Mayer

Mayer wasn’t just Notre Dame’s leading receiver. He was the Irish’s passing-game centerpiece. He had 67 catches for 809 yards and 9 touchdowns in 12 regular-season games. No one else on the team has more than 30 receptions, 340 receiving yards or 3 touchdowns. He was targeted 101 times, 55 more than anyone else. Mayer declared for the NFL Draft and will not play in the Dec. 30 Gator Bowl.

Defensive Player of the Year: Senior linebacker JD Bertrand

JD Bertrand has 22 more tackles than any other Notre Dame defender. He compiled 74 in 11 regular-season games, adding 8 tackles for loss, 2 sacks and 3 pass breakups.

Special Teams Player of the Year: Sophomore linebacker Prince Kollie

Prince Kollie has played a team-high 216 special-teams snaps and is a staple on kickoff coverage, kick return, punt block and punt coverage. He has one of Notre Dame’s seven blocked punts and handled the demanding special-teams workload while his role in the Irish’s defense grew over the course of the regular season.

Offensive Lineman of the Year: Grad student Jarrett Patterson

Jarrett Patterson shifted to left guard after three years as Notre Dame’s starting center. He has started 11 games, allowing 0 sacks and 7 pressures. He has not allowed a sack in 45 career starts. His Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade of 76.4 is tied for the second highest among the five starting offensive linemen.

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Moose Krause Defensive Lineman of the Year: Senior Isaiah Foskey

Isaiah Foskey, Notre Dame’s vyper defensive end, had 11 sacks for the second straight year. He broke the program’s career sack record of 24.5 held by Justin Tuck during the Irish’s Nov. 19 win over Boston College. He ends his career with 26.5 sacks. He declared for the draft and won’t play in the Gator Bowl.

Offensive Scout Team Player of the Year: Running back Sam Assaf

The senior walk-on helped Notre Dame’s first-team defense prepare for its upcoming opponents all year.

Defensive Scout Team Player of the Year: Safety Marty Auer

Auer, a senior walk-on, helped Notre Dame’s starting offense prepare each week. He also played 9 defensive snaps at the end of the Senior Day win over Boston College.

Nick Pietrosante Award: Grad student wide receiver Avery Davis

This award, named for the 1956-58 Notre Dame fullback, goes to the player who best exemplifies courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication and pride. Avery Davis, a sixth-year senior, missed the entire season after tearing his ACL in preseason camp. He tore it just weeks after returning from the same injury suffered in November 2021. Davis is a two-time captain and held that title all season, even though he didn’t play.

Fr. Lange Iron Cross Award: Grad student linebacker Bo Bauer

This award recognizes a player who demonstrated improvement and leadership in the weight room. A torn ACL cut Bo Bauer’s graduate season short after five games. Had he stayed healthy, he would have broken the Notre Dame record for career games played (61).

Fr. Ted Man of the Year Award: Grad student offensive lineman Josh Lugg

Josh Lugg, a sixth-year senior, has started every game at right guard. He has also been a leader in the Notre Dame offensive line’s NIL ventures, some of which have taken a charitable angle. The line has served meals to veterans as part of a deal with Mission BBQ.

Rockne Student-Athlete Award: Senior linebacker Jack Kiser

Most Notre Dame athletic programs give this award to a player each season. Jack Kiser earned College Sports Information Directors of America Academic All-District honors this year. He is a grad student in the Mendoza College of Business pursuing a master’s in accounting.

Kiser is also second on the team in tackles (52). He has 4.5 tackles for loss, 2.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble and 1 blocked punt.