Notre Dame Football: 5 things to watch during 2019 Blue-Gold game

1. Cole Kmet as a potential top target

After the Alize Mack experience (one that ended much better than it began), it’s understandable that fans might have some hesitancy when it comes to trusting junior Cole Kmet as the next best thing at tight end. After all, Notre Dame fans had become quite accustomed to exceptional tight end production after years of Kyle Rudolph, Tyler Eifert, and others.

However, expectations have been tempered after years of less receiving-inclined options at the position. But with Kmet, a player who some thought would be a tight end in name only, the Irish have a legitimate receiving threat who could couple with slot receiver Chris Finke as Book’s top target in the wake of wide receiver Miles Boykin’s departure to the NFL.

While Kmet hasn’t exactly stood out in previous years, some of that can be attributed to a clogged tight end unit that featured the likes of Durham Smythe, Nic Weishar, Brock Wright, and Mack over the last two years. Now only Wright, who will likely be used in a completely different role than Kmet, challenges the latter for playing time.

Sophomore Tommy Tremble might find himself in the mix at some point or another should offensive coordinator Chip Long go to some multiple tight end sets in 2019, but Kmet should have exclusive rights to the top receiving tight end on the team, a title that could serve him well in 2019 and beyond.