Notre Dame football: Way-too-early breakout candidates for 2023

SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - OCTOBER 15: Tobias Merriweather #15 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates a touchdown reception with teammates 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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SOUTH BEND, INDIANA – OCTOBER 15: Tobias Merriweather #15 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish catches a pass for a touchdown against Kendall Williamson #21 of 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) /

I don’t know if it’s just because I loved Tobias Merriweather as a recruit or I liked what I saw from his one catch for 41 yards and a touchdown last season, but I’m putting all my chips in on this kid.

Merriweather has size (6-foot-4, 185 pounds), speed as a former track star, soft hands, and he runs great routes. He can basically do it all and he has the look of a No. 1 receiver.

With Michael Mayer moving on, there’s a need for someone to step up in the receiving corps to become that new top target. I think Merriweather has that potential even though he played sparingly as a true freshman. He should be on the two-deep to start the season and he may even push for a starting spot by the end of September.

I’d actually be shocked if he wasn’t a starter at some point this season because he’s too good to just leave on the bench.

Minimal production in his freshman season aside, Merriweather is a special talent and I think year two is going to see a massive breakout.

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