Yes, of course, and it DOES have to stop SOMEWHERE.
That said, I've researched ND's 22 statistically most productive tight ends, starting with Leon Hart and Monty Stickles -- who technically weren't TIGHT ENDS as there was NO SUCH THING at the time, but they were certainly BUILT LIKE THEM and served that function -- and ending with Mayer.
As soon as I have a moment, I will post it. As with all stats, there are both NO-BRAINERS and SURPRISES contained in the list.
ND’S 22 MOST PRODUCTIVE TIGHT ENDS
By productive, I mean as measured in total career receptions/yards gained/yards per catch/and TD’s. So, the slash line will read the same as in this example:
25/500/15.0/5
Bear in mind . . .
Hart and Stickles were technically PRE-TIGHT ENDS, but they were built and functioned like them.
Casper played tight end in his senior year only; the same as Tony Hunter who had an additional 78 receptions as a wingback and wide receiver in his previous three seasons.
Bavaro played only two seasons.
Fasano, Rudolph, Eifert, Niklas, Mack and Kmet played only three seasons. Presumably, Mayer will as well.
I have
BOLDED the BEST of them.
Monty Stickles 42/746/17.8/12
Leon Hart 49/751/15.3/5
Mike Creaney 45/871/19.4/5
Dave Casper 21/335/16.0/4
Ken MacAfee 128/1759/13.7/15
Dean Masztak 62/924/14.9/3
Tony Hunter 42/507/12.1/0
Mark Bavaro 55/771/14.0/4
Derek Brown 62/889/14.5/8
Irv Smith 28/360/12.9/5
Pete Chyrplewicz 48/585/12.2/5
Jabari Holloway 41/692/16.9/6
Anthony Fasano 92/1112/12.1/8
John Carlson 100/1093/10.9/8
Kyle Rudolph 90/1032/11.5/8
Tyler Eifert 140/1840/13.1/11
Troy Niklas 37/573/15.5/6
Ben Koyack 44/532/12.1/5
Alize Mack 68/716/10.5/4
Durham Smythe 28/381/13.6/6
Cole Kmet 60/691/11.5/6
Michael Mayer 180/2099/11.7/18
Unquestionably, Mayer, from a production standpoint, is in a LEAGUE BY HIMSELF despite having played ONLY THREE YEARS.
The only category he does not lead in is yards per catch, the surprising leader for which is Mike Creaney, ND’s first truly great – officially speaking – tight end who logged a whopping 19.4.