Notre Dame Football: 5 bold predictions for October 2019
By Jacob Wilson
3. Cole Kmet totals nearly 400 receiving yards
If Book is going to throw for 1,000 yards this month, there has to be a main beneficiary. There are a few receivers on the Irish who may fit this profile, but tight end Cole Kmet appears to be the real deal since returning from a collarbone injury that kept him sidelined up until the Irish’s matchup with Georgia.
More from Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- Ranking college football’s top 10 quarterbacks after Week 3
- Notre Dame Football Lands Massive Commitment from QB Deuce Knight
- College Football Playoff: Projected top 4 after Week 3
- 3 takeaways from Notre Dame football’s win over Central michigan
- Notre Dame football: 3 bold predictions vs. Central Michigan in Week 3
Despite ultimately falling short, Kmet put on quite a show against the Bulldogs, hauling in nine receptions for 108 yards and an impressive touchdown grab. The junior added another 65 yards against Virginia, solidifying himself as one of Book’s top targets in almost every aspect of the passing game.
With former tight ends Alize Mack and Durham Smythe now in the NFL, Kmet’s absence took quite a toll on a Notre Dame offense that was forced to use Brock Wright and Tommy Tremble at tight end. Wright is known as more of a fullback while Tremble looked like a tight end trapped in a wide receiver’s body. Needless to say, Kmet was dearly missed by Book and the rest of the offense.
Again, this prediction hinges significantly on the first. If Book shows little improvement, the already small chances of this happening become virtually nonexistent. However, a Book resurgence would mean great things for Kmet, possibly in the form of an insane 400 yard month.