A Mackey Award semifinalist and Preseason Second-Team All-American, and one of the nation’s top tight ends in 2024, TE Mitchell Evans had a breakout season in 2023 before being sidelined with an injury.

Evans is Notre Dame’s premier tight end in 2024, and also plays a significant role in run blocking. Notre Dame’s rushing offense leads the Power 4 in yards per carry (6.30) and ranks No. 3 among Power 4 teams in rushing offense (224.8). With 40 rushing touchdowns, the Irish rank second among all Power 4 teams and tie for third among all FBS programs.

He played in eight games as a junior in 2023, starting seven, and ended the season as the team’s top receiving target, averaging 52.8 yards per game. Through those eight games, Evans totaled 29 receptions for 422 yards and a touchdown during the season, averaging 14.6 yards per catch.

• 2024 John Mackey Award Semifinalist
• Watchlist for 2025 Senior Bowl
• 2024 Associated Press Preseason All-American – Second Team
• 2024 Lombardi Award Watch List
• 2024 Sporting News Preseason All-American – Second Team
• 2024 Phil Steele Preseason All-American – Second Team
• 2023 Joe Moore Award Pancake Block of the Week (Sept. 4, 2023)
• 2023 Notre Dame Offensive Player of the Game – at Duke
• In 2023, Evans was sidelined with a season-ending injury after the win over Pitt

IN 2024:

• Evans is Notre Dame’s premier tight end, and also plays a significant role in run blocking. Notre Dame’s rushing offense leads the Power 4 in yards per carry (6.30) and ranks No. 3 among Power 4 teams in rushing offense (224.8). With 40 rushing touchdowns, the Irish rank second among all Power 4 teams and tie for third among all FBS programs.
• at TEXAS A&M (8/31): Saw playing time as tight end in the victory
• NORTHERN ILLINOIS (9/7): Targeted three times…made two catches for 26 yards… longest reception was 14 yards
• at PURDUE (9/15): Made three catches on three targets for 27 yards… longest catch was 19 yards
• MIAMI UNIVERSITY (9/22): Competed in the game for the Irish… made two catches for 15 yards
• LOUISVILLE (9/28): Started at tight end for the Irish… three catches on three targets for 14 yards
• STANFORD (10/12): Started at tight end for the Irish… saw time on both offense and special teams
• at GEORGIA TECH (10/19): Started at tight end… had four catches for 24 yards… longest reception of the game was 10 yards
• at NAVY (10/26): Started at tight end… pulled in two catches for 25 yards… longest catch was good for 13 yards to pick up a first time on the opening drive
• FLORIDA STATE (11/9): Started at tight end, posted two catches for 21 yards and his first touchdown of the season.
• VIRGINIA (11/16): Started at tight end, posted four catches for 34 yards and a touchdown.
• ARMY (11/23): Caught two passes for 25 yards and played a key blocking role for the Irish.
• at USC (11/30): Led the Irish in receiving with five receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown…Evans’ touchdown came on a 23-yard pass, diving into the end zone for the score to give Notre Dame a 14-point lead…Earlier in the game, Evans lined up on punt coverage in the second quarter. The Irish executed a fake punt, as Tyler Buchner completed a 23-yard pass to Evans to get the Irish a first down.

IN 2023:

• Led the team in receiving in 2023 with 29 receptions
• TENNESSEE STATE (9/2): Led the team with four catches for 61 yards in the second game of the season … Three catches came on the final drive of the first half as the Irish marched 80 yards in 38 seconds to set up a touchdown to close the half
• at NORTH CAROLINA STATE (9/9): Caught one pass for two yards … Carried the ball once, taking the snap from under center and diving forward for two yards to gain a first down and extend the Irish drive
• OHIO STATE (9/23): Caught a career-best seven passes on seven targets … Gained a career-best 75 yards … Big third down conversion with a one-handed catch
• at DUKE (9/30): Earned his first 100-yard receiving performance … Caught six passes, gaining 134 yards as the team’s leading receiver … Earned 65 yards after catch … Had a game-long 36 yard reception …. Earned an Honorable Mention from the week 5 John Mackey Award for his performance
• at LOUISVILLE (10/7): Caught a team-best four passes … Gained 71 receiving yards … Scored his first touchdown of the season late in the game
• USC (10/14): Caught two passes, gaining 13 yards … Targeted a team-high four times
• PITTSBURGH (10/28): Caught a team-high five passes for 66 yards before leaving the game due to injury … Totaled 36 yards after the catch

GAME SPOTLIGHT: 9/30/23 AT DUKE

• Evans led all Notre Dame and Duke players with a career-high 134 receiving yards on six catches in the 21-14 win over No. 17 Duke, also the most receiving yards in a single game by an Irish player to that point in the season. Evans averaged 22.3 yards per catch, a clip which was the best among all FBS tight ends with five or more receptions this weekend. The average also ranked fifth among all FBS players who caught five or more passes this weekend, regardless of position.
• Evans’ 22.3 yards-per-catch vs. Duke was the second-highest single-game average among all FBS tight ends that season at that point with five receptions in a game.
• His 134 offensive yards were also the most among all players on the field, and he totaled 99 yards in the first half alone. All six of Evans’ catches resulted in first downs, with three on third down. His 19-yard grab on third down in the fourth quarter kept Notre Dame’s game-winning drive alive. In addition, Evans’ spectacular one-handed tip and catch in the second quarter resulted in his game-long 36-yard reception over the middle, his second week with a showstopping catch.