Notre Dame tight end number 82 honored

Tommy Tremble (Class of 2018–2020, #82)

Notre Dame career & honors

• Red‑shirted in 2018, Tremble broke out in 2019 with 16 catches, 183 yards, and 4 touchdowns, earning a top‑10 ranking among Irish players—and notably the highest run‑blocking grade among tight ends per Pro Football Focus at 82.8 .
• He earned recognition for combining athleticism with ferocious blocking. Scouts often hailed him as “the best pure blocker in the 2021 TE draft class” , likening him to NFL standouts like George Kittle .

NFL success & national recognition

• Drafted 83rd overall in Round 3 by the Carolina Panthers (2021) . Remarkably, he scored a touchdown on his first NFL touch, becoming the youngest TE in NFL history to achieve that feat—a record that eclipsed Rob Gronkowski’s mark .
• A versatile weapon as a rookie: Tremble tallied 20 catches, 180 yards, and a receiving TD in 2021, while earning high grades for his special teams play (86.2 PFF) .
• His athleticism impressed: a 4.59-second 40-yard dash (90th percentile for TEs) and 36.5″ vertical leap demonstrated his elite physical profile .

Legacy & honors

• Tommie Tremble’s honors include being ranked among Notre Dame’s Top 25 most important players , earning All‑ACC Honorable Mention, and being featured in ESPN/NFL Draft discussions as a top‑prospect TE.
• In the NFL, his record-setting first-touch touchdown cemented him in history, and he’s since earned a solid, multi-year $16M extension in March 2025 .

Community perceptions

• Fans and analysts have praised him:
  

  “He’s the best blocking TE I have ever seen in college.”
  “A blocking freak… I’d go as far as to say he’s the equivalent to Big Q but as a TE.”

• NFL insiders predicted he could become a Pro Bowl‑level blocking tight end with upside in receiving .

Marcus Freeman (Class of 2002–2006, #82)

College tenure & NFL experience

• Freeman played TE at Notre Dame, earning varsity letters until 2006 .
• Undrafted in 2007, he signed with the Carolina Panthers, later joining the New York Giants—earning a Super Bowl ring in the 2007 postseason, when the Giants upset the undefeated Patriots .

Post-football honors & career

• After football, Freeman pursued education: earned a Master’s in Educational Leadership, became a licensed principal, and is currently principal at Capitol Hill Gifted and Talented Magnet School in St. Paul, MN .
• His honors extend beyond athletics—a success story in education and administration, symbolizing Notre Dame’s focus on student-athlete development.

Other Notable #82s: Irv Smith Sr., Paul Costa & Kyle Rudolph

Irv Smith Sr. (Mid‑1990s, #82)

• A skilled and athletic receiving tight end; went 2nd round to the Minnesota Vikings in 1995, enjoyed a productive NFL career .
• While not tied to a specific recent honor, Smith Sr. remains noted among ND’s tight end lineage, contributing to its reputation as “Tight End U” .

Paul Costa (1960s, #82)

• A standout TE in the 1960s. He was named to Notre Dame’s All‑Century Team, reflecting his lasting impact. Though his NFL career was shorter, his collegiate honors are notable.

Kyle Rudolph (2008–2010, #82)

College & NFL career

• Played for Notre Dame under Charlie Weis; declared for 2011 draft. Drafted 2nd round, 43rd overall by Minnesota Vikings .
• Established himself in a 12-year NFL career with the Vikings, Giants, and Bucs: 482 receptions, 4,773 yards, 50 touchdowns. A 2‑time Pro Bowl selection (2012, 2017) and Pro Bowl MVP (2013) .
• Rudolph is among Notre Dame’s most honored TEs: draft success, Pro Bowls, postseason records, and collegiate leadership.

Since the 1970s, ND has produced 25 NFL tight ends, including 5 first-rounders (Casper, MacAfee, Hunter, Brown, Eifert) and 7 second-rounders . #82s like Tremble, Rudolph, Smith, and Freeman are part of that elite lineage.

• Tremble’s academic and athletic excellence, along with his leadership in blocking and character, make him an exemplary representative.
• Freeman’s career pivot to education and school leadership embodies Notre Dame’s holistic mission.
• Tommy Tremble: Collegiate honors, NFL record (first-TD), PFF grades, draft buzz, and contracting.
• Marcus Freeman: Super Bowl ring, educational leadership, advanced degrees.
• Kyle Rudolph: Pro Bowls, NFL stats, longevity.
• Irv Smith Sr. & Paul Costa: NFL impact, collegiate legacy.

Summary Table of Notable ND #82 Tight Ends

Why #82 Matters at Notre Dame

Symbol of Tradition & Excellence

Wearing #82, these TEs inherited extraordinary expectations. Across eras, they’ve upheld Notre Dame’s reputation for producing elite, versatile tight ends—combining blocking, receiving, leadership, and academic rigor.

• Tommy Tremble showcased character and teamwork, earning respect on and off the field.
• Marcus Freeman illustrates the lasting impact beyond football—shaping children’s lives as a principal.
• Kyle Rudolph remains a role model for aspiring Irish student-athletes.
• These players show that ND produces both sports stars AND community leaders, underscoring the importance of football as part of a broader educational journey.

The legacy of Notre Dame tight ends wearing #82 stretches across decades of excellence:

• From Tommy Tremble’s record‑breaking NFL entrance and unmatched blocking prowess,
• To Marcus Freeman’s Super Bowl glory and educational leadership,
• Through Kyle Rudolph’s Pro Bowl success,
• And reaching back to Irv Smith Sr. & Paul Costa, who laid foundations decades ago.

Every one of these men embodies the dual pillars of athletic ability and personal character—hallmarks of Notre Dame’s storied tradition. Whether on the gridiron or in the community, they’ve made “#82” a number associated not just with tight ends, but with all‑around excellence.