Notre Dame football: Second-year players who'll become stars in 2023

Notre Dame football: Second-year players who’ll become stars in 2023

SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - OCTOBER 15: Tobias Merriweather #15 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish can't catch a pass from Drew Pyne #10 against the Stanford Cardinal during the second half at Notre Dame Stadium on October 15, 2022 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /

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Eli Raridon of Valley scores a touchdown as the Maroons take on the Tigers in West Des Moines, Friday, Oct. 15, 2021.1n5a2029 Jpg /

Saying goodbye to Michael Mayer won’t be easy for Irish fans. He was one of the best tight ends in school history and had a heck of an impact in just three years.

How do you replace 180 catches, over 2,000 receiving yards, and 18 touchdowns over three years? You really can’t, but luckily the Irish continue to land some of the best tight ends in the country in every single recruiting class. Eli Raridon fits that description.

Raridon was the No. 57 overall recruit and second-best tight end in the 2022 class and he has plenty of size to make him a threat in the passing game at 6-foot-6 and 228 pounds.

While no one can really replace Mayer who had back-to-back 800-plus receiving yard seasons which is almost unheard of for tight ends, Raridon will have a shot in 2023.

The tight end is a huge part of Notre Dame’s offense and it always has been and I think Raridon is that next star that will rise to the top at the position nationally.

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