Notre Dame Looks to Keep Tight End Magic Alive With 2026 Prospect

Max Uretsky
Jun 4
5 min read

The moniker "Tight End U" has become synonymous with Notre Dame thanks to years of producing top-tier talent at the position, dating back to the 1970s with players like Dave Casper, an NFL Hall of Famer, and continuing through to modern-day players such as Kyle Rudolph and Tyler Eifert. It's something the program and fan base take pride in, and recruits are generally well aware of the history the Fighting Irish have had in developing tight ends, which makes it an ideal destination for some of the country's best.

Photo via Brayden Fogle, Instagram (@brayden_fogle23)

One player that has an opportunity to be one of the next success stories out of South Bend is C/O 2026 top ten tight end, Brayden Fogle. The Ohio native received an offer from Notre Dame in May and will be taking an official visit in early June. Fogle has drawn attention from a handful of other major programs, including Georgia, LSU, Ole Miss, and Penn State. In what should be a hotly contested recruiting battle among some of the sports Blue Bloods, Notre Dame's track record of molding tight ends should keep them squarely in the mix. The 4-star product embodies a lot of what you want in a TE for today's game, and the tape on him is promising. For this breakdown, each trait will be graded on a scale of 1 (Poor) to 7 (Elite). Let's get into it!

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Receiving/Hands: Elite (7)

On film, Fogle is much more what would be considered a "move" tight end. This means he lines up in the slot, as an X, and everywhere in between. He is a vertical threat that can track the ball and is elite when it comes to high-pointing the ball over the top of defenders. At 6'3" and 225 pounds, Fogle does an excellent job of boxing out defensive backs when the ball is in the air and consistently shows he can adjust around his frame. He displays very good concentration on passes that hang in the air too long and can fight through contact at the catch point. His length and leaping ability make him a go-to target in the red zone, and he routinely wins his one-on-one matchups near the goal line. He has major YAC ability, running through arm tackles after the catch, and is shiftier than you would expect for his size. One of the most impressive aspects of his receiving ability is the fact that he has done it against some of the highest-ranked cornerbacks from his class when he has been lined up wide. Fogle is uniquely equipped to help take pressure off the wide receivers in the passing game.

Blocking: Solid (4)

As mentioned above, Fogle spent a lot of his time detached from the line of scrimmage and in more of a receiver role, so this trait is a little tricky to grade, but one of importance for a tight end. When lined up wide, Fogle did excel as a perimeter blocker, washing out smaller defensive backs and allowing running backs to bounce plays outside. As one of the lead blockers on WR screens, he does show good hand placement, getting inside a defender's frame and pairing it with leg drive and very good play strength to finish off the block. He also flashes good awareness to find someone to block in the open field on broken plays when the QB leaves the pocket to scramble. I did not see any reps of him going against bigger defenders in the run game, or having to chip defensive ends in pass pro, so that is something I will be looking for during his senior season. He has the physical attributes to be able to do these things, but it needs to be seen on film to get an improved grade.

Route Running: Good (5)

I would not call Fogle a polished route runner quite yet, but there are a lot of things he does well in this area. He is very proficient at running out breaking routes from the slot, getting up on second and third level defenders quickly, and freezing them with a slight jab step before he works towards the sideline. He also does a good job around the goal line when 1 on 1, getting the DB to lean inside by selling a slant before flattening back outside towards the pylon. He understands how to create a little space for himself in the condensed red zone area, especially on fade routes, making sure there is room to get a foot in bounds. I would like to see him find the void vs Zone Coverage and sit down a little quicker to help his QB out, which will come with more reps and coaching. Getting in and out of breaks more explosively will also help him create additional separation, where his natural athleticism will be able to shine after the catch.

Athletic Ability: Very Good (6)

Long gone are the days when tight ends are nothing more than an extension of the offensive line. Athletic tight ends can create some of the biggest mismatches in an offense's favor, as they are often too big to be covered by corners and safeties, and too fast to be covered by most linebackers. Fogle has the athletic ability to fit that bill, as he has good straight-line speed for his size but also enough change of direction that he is dangerous with the ball in his hands. Not many tight ends are asked to also return kickoffs, but Fogle has done this with success, and one of the plays that most confirmed his special athleticism to me was one that came on defense. Doubling as a defensive end, Fogle showed rare bend and flatten ability working around an offensive tackle and showed incredible closing speed on a QB that was rolling away from him to get the sack. As his route running catches up to his God given athletic acumen, he will be a defensive coordinator's nightmare, and he should be able to make an absolute killing in the middle of the field.

Offensive Coordinator/Tight Ends Coach Mike Denbrock coached tight ends for Notre Dame from 2002-2004 and rejoined the staff from 2010-2016 before making his return last year. He saw multiple tight ends go from South Bend to the NFL, even as recently as this past year when Mitchell Evans was selected in the fifth round by the Carolina Panthers. He is a proven commodity when it comes to the evolution of tight ends under his tutelage, and a player as talented as Brayden Fogle would give him a lot to work with. There is a rich tradition of tight ends and Notre Dame, and if the recruiting staff can sell that history, Fogle very well may be the next one to help keep that alive.