In the Film Room: Elite Irish TE Commit Ian Premer

Max Uretsky
Jun 29
4 min read

Throughout most of the 2026 recruiting cycle, 4-star tight end Ian Premer was heavily linked to the Kansas State Wildcats. The university, only 2 hours away from where Premer plays his high school ball, was the front runner to land his services, until they weren't.

Photo via Ian Premer, Instagram (@ianpremer)

Premer announced his commitment to Notre Dame on Thursday to much surprise and excitement from Irish fans. The multi-sport star is among the top 5 tight ends in the country, and his commitment is another major one for the Blue and Gold amid an unbelievable run on the recruiting trail. With Premer joining Preston Fryzel, who also committed earlier this week, the 2026 class is ensuring that Tight End U is alive and well. The film is exactly what you expect for such a highly regarded prospect, and the evaluation was eye-opening. As always, each trait will be graded on a scale of 1 (Poor) to 7 (Elite). Let's get into it!

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Athletic Ability: Elite (7)

Premer has rare movement skills for the tight end position. Rare enough that he also snagged three interceptions, one being a pick 6, as a safety, and has returned a kickoff for a touchdown. He not only possesses the acceleration and straight line speed to be able to win vertically, but his change of direction and agility in the open field after the catch is not something you see every day. This is all packed into a 6'5" frame, which makes him a matchup nightmare for defenses. His leaping ability shines in red zone situations, and he has picked up some major yardage from out of the backfield as a split back and even as a wildcat QB. It is reminiscent of how Penn State used 2024 Mackey Award winner Tyler Warren a season ago, and with Premer bringing a great deal of versatility to South Bend, he may be in line for future accolades himself.

Release: Elite (7)

When lined up wide, Premer has excellent use of hands when it comes to defeating press coverage. His timing, combined with his play strength, allows him to fight through pressure at the LOS and, in many cases, knock the defensive back off balance. He has top-notch acceleration when getting into his route with a powerful first step and is explosive off the snap. He understands leveraging and how to set up defensive backs with his stem. He gets to his spot with no wasted movement and seems to understand route concepts well. He creates quick separation at the top of his route, utilizing a jab step to get the defender to open his hips. It is an area of the game that is often overlooked, but any wide receiver or tight end needs to have a good release package to be successful.

Yards After Catch: Elite (7)

When you think of the best tight ends of all time at any level, none of them were getting taken down by arm tackles, and it usually took multiple defenders. Premer is no exception. Once the ball is in his hands, his unique blend of shiftiness and play strength in the open field leads to a lot of explosive plays. He has good stop and start ability, making defenders overpursue before he changes direction and gets back upfield. He also uses an efficient stiff arm against smaller defensive backs. Premer knows how to use his blockers downfield, and has the vision to know where his lanes are setting up. When he can not win with elusiveness, he still has the power to lower a shoulder and run through a defender, which makes choosing how to attack him as a tackler a tall task. He will not only be a security blanket in the short and intermediate passing game, but his after-catch skill set will make him someone defensive coordinators have to game plan around.

Blocking: Good (5)

As is the case with many uber-athletic tight ends at the high school level, Premer takes the majority of his snaps detached from the line of scrimmage, being split out wide or playing from the slot. This leaves a bit of a question mark in terms of how he would hold up in the trenches in pass pro vs defensive ends, or if he would be able to move linemen and linebackers in the run game. One thing that is not in question, though, is his competitive toughness and willingness to get after it as a blocker when called on. H does a very good job downfield and on the perimeter vs defensive backs, washing them out of the play and helping spring runners for big gains. His hand placement and leg drive are both good, and he seems to take pride in finishing a block and playing through the whistle once he engages a defender. Premer, who is currently 220 pounds, will still add some more weight to his frame under a college-level diet and weight training regimen, which could help him be successful if asked to play some snaps inline, since the consistent aggressiveness is already there.

Ian Premer truly lives up to his recruiting ranking, and Notre Dame has not had this caliber of athlete at the tight end since Michael Mayer. Joining a school that historically develops the position better than anyone else should set up Premer to have a remarkable collegiate career that could very well extend beyond to the next level. All the tools are in place for the young tight end, and the 2026 class continues to get even better.