Notre Dame Football: Chase Claypool on track to be next elite receiver

Chase Claypool has shown the potential to be a solid receiver for Notre Dame football, but is he ready to be the Irish’s next elite wide out?

Notre Dame has had a string of elite wide receivers over the years and the Fighting Irish are on track to have yet another in 2019, even with the departure of Miles Boykin.

Losing Boykin will hurt, don’t get me wrong, but the Irish have to feel fortunate enough to replace him with 6-foot-5, 228-pound Chase Claypool. The soon-to-be senior wide out passed up an opportunity to leave early for the NFL in order to spend one more season with the Irish in South Bend, chasing that elusive national title.

And with Boykin gone, he will be the recipient of a plethora of targets.

As if his numbers in 2018 weren’t impressive enough — 50 catches for 639 yards and four touchdowns — he could have an even more productive 2019 than Boykin had this season.

Although he’s not the fastest guy on the field, being a jump-ball threat and an excellent pass-catcher with strong hands and a knack for getting in good position. He’s strong and with that size, he’s a cornerback’s worst nightmare in the red zone. He has the potential to be some NFL team’s No. 1 receiver some day, but in 2019, he has the opportunity to show just how he can excel in that role.

The Irish have some talented up-and-comers like former blue-chip prospect Kevin Austin and Lawrence Keys III but 2019 is the year of Claypool.

The real question is this: will Claypool be the best of the recent crop of elite Irish receivers? There’s a good chance with his size and production to this point. Now that he has the opportunity to be the No. 1 guy, he’s going to show the nation what he’s all about.

Notre Dame may not be WRU, but Claypool will definitely start driving that talk.