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  • Notre Dame junior tight end Tyler Eifert catches a first-quarter touchdown pass against the Air Force Academy last season. CHAD WEAVER

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  • Notre Dame senior tight end Tyler Eifert answers questions from the media during media day earlier this week. DAVID VANTRESS

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August 18, 2012

NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL: Sky is the limit for Irish senior TE Eifert

Fort Wayne Bishop Dwenger product had breakout season in 2011, ready for more

By GREG KEIM THE GOSHEN NEWS

SOUTH BEND — Michael Floyd is now in the NFL so one of the questions for Notre Dame heading into the 2012 season is who will be the go-to receiver for the Fighting Irish?

One possible answer has a local flavor in 6-6 (251) senior tight end Tyler Eifert from Fort Wayne.  Last season, the 2008 Bishop Dwenger graduate established himself among the elite tight ends in the country by catching 63 passes for 803 yards and five touchdowns.

His numbers topped all other tight ends in the in the FBS.

“It’s a challenge I’ll accept,” the 2011 Walter Camp First Team All-American said Thursday during Notre Dame media day. “Being the No. 1 guy is a little more pressure and it adds to the focus on you. The idea is to make plays when your number is called.”

Eifert is a consensus preseason All-America pick this season, but that didn’t change his approach for his senior season.

“I’ve heard all the hype from my family and friends,” he said.

“I try to not look at things like that. My approach to this season has not been any different than other years. But I do realize my role as a leader on the team has increased since we lost some of last season’s playmakers to graduation.

“I’ve worked on becoming a leader. I’ve never be a huge fan of being in the spotlight. I’m more of a low-key type. At the same time I have always wanted to be the best player I could. I’ve waited for my turn and now it’s time to step up.”

The spotlight is going to be on Eifert this season as he has been named to the 43rd Annual Rotary Lombardi Award Official Watch List.

In addition to the Lombardi Award, Eifert is also in the running for both the Maxwell (top collegiate player) and Mackey (top collegiate tight end) Awards.

Eifert has seen a steady rise in his production since arriving in South Bend.

He saw limited action as a freshman before being named Offensive Newcomer of the Year as a sophomore when 16 of his 27 receptions resulted in either a first down or a touchdown.

Eifert has a total of 90 catches in his ND career for 1,155 yards. He needs 39 catches and 605 yards to break Ken MacAfee’s career records at the school.

“My college career has been similar to my high school one,” he said. “As a sophomore I didn’t do much before having better junior and senior seasons.”

As a senior at Dwenger in 2008, Eifert sparked the Saints to a 14-1 season.

Dwenger was the Class 4A state runner-up after dropping a 10-7 decision to Indianapolis Cathedral.

Another question surrounding the Irish heading into the season is at quarterback where sophomore Everett Golson and junior Andrew Hendrix appear to be the leaders to start the opener with Navy in Dublin, Ireland, on Saturday, Sept. 1 at 9 a.m. local time.

“Both Golson and Hendrix have made a lot of progress,” Eifert said.

“Both are great competitors. They bring a lot of energy to the team and a lot of enthusiasm.”

The off-season workouts and the time the team has spent in practice so far this season has had a positive effect on the Irish.

“We are getting better each day,” Eifert said.

“We have grown together as a team. It’s a step up this team needed to take. There were some doubts last season, but that mindset has changed.”

It’s been a long process since last season.

“It’s incredible how many days we practice just to play 12 games,” Eifert said.

 

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