Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman on his connection with Pete Bevacqua
Notre Dame football coach Marcus Freeman discusses the ‘mind-blowing’ legacy of athletic director Jack Swarbrick and developing bond with Pete Bevacqua
SOUTH BEND — Wide receiver Chris Tyree had an open invitation to return in 2023 for a fifth season with Notre Dame football.
Instead, the all-purpose speedster from Virginia announced late Monday afternoon he had entered the portal as a graduate transfer. The 30-day transfer portal window for non-graduates at the FBS level opens Dec. 4.
Tyree joined two-year starting center Zeke Correll and graduate defensive end Nana Osafo-Mensah in that regard. Osafo-Mensah made his plans known via social media earlier Monday after a recording a sack in the regular-season finale at Stanford two days before.
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A valuable reserve from Fort Worth, Texas, Osafo-Mensah finished the year with 20 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, three sacks and two quarterback hurries.
Correll, who missed the final 2 ½ games this season after suffering a concussion late in the first half at Clemson on Nov. 4, made 23 consecutive starts before that setback and 31 total in his career.
Tyree, who spent his first three seasons at running back, switched to slot receiver in the spring. He led all Irish players with 484 receiving yards this season, and his 26 receptions ranked third.
“Chris Tyree is a great example of the bumpy road to better,” Irish coach Marcus Freeman said on Oct. 30. “A guy that can move positions, have setbacks and get better because of it. I think he’s still getting better. He’s a guy I hope will come back for another year. He is just starting to scratch the surface of how good he can be.”
Tyree also had three touchdown receptions, with a long of 76 yards against Central Michigan. He also had a costly drop that could have gone for a touchdown in the Oct. 7 loss at Louisville.
His 82-yard punt return against Pittsburgh made him the first Irish player since Julius Jones (1999-2003) with career scores by punt return, kick return, rush attempt and reception. Notre Dame’s last punt return for a touchdown had been in 2015 (C.J. Sanders).
On the down side, Tyree muffed a punt at Clemson that set up a field goal in the Nov. 4 loss.
Tyree rushed for 1,162 yards and eight touchdowns his first three seasons.
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for NDInsider.com and is on social media @MikeBerarduino.
2023-11-28 00:14:02
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