*It should come as no surprise that Kincaid wasn’t the only tight end Kelce mentioned during Friday’s media session.
Michael Mayer has built a highly successful college career at Notre Dame. As a freshman, Mayer threw 42 passes for 450 yards and two touchdowns on his way to third-team all-ACC.
From then on, his success only increased.
The 6-foot-4, 265-pound tight end had 71 receptions for 840 yards and seven touchdowns as a sophomore before finishing with 67 receptions for 809 yards and nine touchdowns last season. He was named a Third-Team All-American in 2021 and a Consensus All-American as a junior.
Mayer chose Kelce as his NFL comparison.
“I would have to go with another 87 – (Kansas City Chiefs) Travis Kelce,” the Notre Dame TE told the media. “The way he drives his routes, the way he does his thing, is like no other. He completely expands the tight end game. So I have to go with Trav. I met him last summer – great guy. Just to watch him and watch movies about him to see how he plays his game, he’s great in the tight end position and he does amazing things for the tight end position too.
Oregon State’s Luke Musgrave also mentioned the Chiefs’ tight end as one of the players he’s trying to emulate.
“I take little things from people’s games. They’re all great at everything. Kelce has a great sense of route. He has a great relationship with (quarterback Patrick) Mahomes zoning and running routes manipulating releases. George Kittle is another great tight end all round. But he’s great at this wide zone blocking game. (TJ) Hockenson is a great all-rounder again. But he is a major Redzone threat. He catches the ball really well and runs some really good distances.”
Despite just 47 receptions for 633 yards and two touchdowns in four seasons with the Beavers, Musgrave still ranks No. 41 on Daniel Jeremiah’s top 50 prospects.
*Similar to Musgrave, Georgia tight end Darnell Washington hasn’t had much reception at the college level.
Washington caught 45 passes for 774 yards and three touchdowns in three seasons with the Bull Dogs. He had his best season in 2022, catching 28 passes for 454 yards and two points.
The 21-year-old tight end is a physical specimen at 6-foot-7 and 270 pounds. Washington was a multi-athlete in high school, which he believes benefited as he works toward a career in the NFL.
“Being a multi-sport athlete has helped me in every way,” Washington said. “So in basketball, people unpack. This goes to the soccer field. If it’s a jump ball, punch them out. I shot put. I don’t really know how that helps. Volleyball, jumping repeatedly. It helps with jumping and stuff like that.”
Washington is ranked 24th on Jeremiah’s prospect list.
