For some that pay close attention, the biggest takeaway from Wednesday’s first spring practice of 2023 hardly comes as a surprise. It felt like a long time coming, especially with the amount of talent in Notre Dame’s backfield, but if Wednesday was any indication than rising senior Chris Tyree’s days in the backfield are limited.
Tyree, who will be a senior this fall and now sports number two instead of 25, spent Wednesday working at slot receiver. The 5-9 speedster spent his first three seasons at Notre Dame in the backfield, rushing a career high 100 times last year for 444 yards and three touchdowns. He hauled in 24 receptions for 138 more yards and two more scores.
So will Tyree stay in the slot or will he be in the backfield? Marcus Freeman offered the following after the first spring practice:
“He’s a guy that has multiple skill sets, and we know Chris Tyree is a guy we have to have on the football field…The ability to put him at wideout, we know what he can do as a running back, to really be a guy that can do multiple different things.”
So by the sounds of Freeman it would appear that Tyree’s days in the backfield aren’t entirely done, but the writing sure seems on the wall for him to be thrown to a lot more this year. Audric Estime and logan diggs both breaking out last year adds to that, as do the additions of highly regarded incoming freshman Jeremiyah Love and sophomore Jadarian Price, who missed last year due to injury.
It’s also a way to better a wide receiver group that simply lacks depth. It’s seemingly improving but has a way to go before it’s anywhere near a championship level. Tyree moving to receiver helps that but the gap remains.
That all said, it should be fun to see how Tyree’s tremendous speed it utilized more in the slot and how defenses have to account for it will bring a compelling dynamic.
Syndication: Florida Times-Union
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25) pushes off South Carolina Gamecocks defensive back…
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25) pushes off South Carolina Gamecocks defensive back Nick Emmanwori (21) on a first down pass play to the 19 yard line with just under three minutes to play in the fourth quarter. The University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish took on the University of South Carolina Gamecocks in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl game in Jacksonville, Florida’s TIAA Bank Field Friday, December 30, 2022. The first half ended with South Carolina holding a 24 to 17 lead but Notre Dame came back and with a late fourth quarter touchdown, won the game 45 to 38. [Bob Self/Florida Times-Union]
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NCAA Football: Boston College at Notre Dame
Nov. 19, 2022; South Bend, Indiana;Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25) is tackled…
Nov. 19, 2022; South Bend, Indiana;Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25) is tackled by Boston College Eagles linebacker Vinny DePalma (42) in the third quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: UNLV at Notre Dame
Oct 22, 2022; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25)…
Oct 22, 2022; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25) runs for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the UNLV Rebels at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: UNLV at Notre Dame
Oct 22, 2022; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25)…
Oct 22, 2022; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25) celebrates with offensive lineman Blake Fisher (54) after a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the UNLV Rebels at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: California at Notre Dame
Sep 17, 2022; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25)…
Sep 17, 2022; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25) scores a touchdown in front of California Bears safety Daniel Scott (2) in the second quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Marshall v Notre Dame
Tyler Buchner #12, Chris Tyree #25 and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees of Notre Dame Fighting Irish…
Tyler Buchner #12, Chris Tyree #25 and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees of Notre Dame Fighting Irish look on prior to the game against the Marshall Thundering Herd at Notre Dame Stadium on September 10, 2022 in South Bend, Indiana. Michael Reaves/Getty Images
NCAA Football: Notre Dame at Ohio State
Sep 3, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25) runs…
Sep 3, 2022; Columbus, Ohio, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25) runs the ball as Ohio State Buckeyes safety Lathan Ransom (12) makes the tackle during the third quarter at Ohio Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Notre Dame Spring Game
Apr 23, 2022; Notre Dame, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25)…
Apr 23, 2022; Notre Dame, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25) carries in the first quarter of the Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Oklahoma State at Notre Dame
Jan 1, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (left) runs…
Jan 1, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (left) runs the ball against Oklahoma State Cowboys safety Jason Taylor II in the first half during the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Oklahoma State at Notre Dame
Jan 1, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25) scores…
Jan 1, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25) scores a touchdown against the Oklahoma State Cowboys in the first half during the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Fiesta Bowl-Oklahoma State at Notre Dame
Jan 1, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25) against…
Jan 1, 2022; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25) against Oklahoma State Cowboys cornerback Jabbar Muhammad (6) in the first half during the 2022 Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
PlayStation Fiesta Bowl – Oklahoma State v Notre Dame
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 01: Chris Tyree #25 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs with…
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 01: Chris Tyree #25 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs with the ball in the first quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PlayStation Fiesta Bowl – Oklahoma State v Notre Dame
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 01: Chris Tyree #25 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates with…
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 01: Chris Tyree #25 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates with teammates after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter against the Oklahoma State Cowboys during the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl at State Farm Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
PlayStation Fiesta Bowl – Oklahoma State v Notre Dame
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 01: Jack Coan #17 and Chris Tyree #25 of the Notre Dame…
GLENDALE, ARIZONA – JANUARY 01: Jack Coan #17 and Chris Tyree #25 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish warm up before the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at State Farm Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
NCAA Football: Notre Dame at Stanford
Nov. 27, 2021; Stanford, California, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25) carries…
Nov. 27, 2021; Stanford, California, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25) carries the ball during the first quarter against the Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium. Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports
Kelly on Chris Tyree:
“In terms of Chris Tyree, we’ve made the progress necessary for him to be penciled in…
“In terms of Chris Tyree, we’ve made the progress necessary for him to be penciled in on kickoff today, so he’ll get the first team reps on kickoff and he’ll get reps in our Thursday second team running back reps. So, the natural progress. Now he’s gonna have to show us today at full speed that he’s ready to go. But we like where we are at going into today’s practice.”
Credit: Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Notre Dame at Wisconsin
Sept. 25, 2021; Chicago, Illinois; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25) returns a…
Sept. 25, 2021; Chicago, Illinois; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25) returns a kick for a touchdown during the second half against the Wisconsin Badgers at Soldier Field. Patrick Gorski-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Notre Dame at Florida State
Sep 5, 2021; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25) runs…
Sep 5, 2021; Tallahassee, Florida, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25) runs past Florida State Seminoles defensive back Akeem Dent (27) during the second quarter at Doak S. Campbell Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Rose Bowl-Notre Dame vs Alabama
Jan 1, 2021; Arlington, TX, USA; Notre DameÕs Chris Tyree (25) runs the ball as teammate…
Jan 1, 2021; Arlington, TX, USA; Notre DameÕs Chris Tyree (25) runs the ball as teammate Aaron Banks (69) holds off AlabamaÕs DeMarcco Hellams (29) during the 2021 College Football Playoff Rose Bowl game on Friday, Jan. 1, 2021, inside AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Mandatory Credit: Robert Franklin-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: ACC Championship-Notre Dame at Clemson
Dec. 19, 2020; Charlotte, NC, USA; Notre Dames Chris Tyree (25) runs in a touchdown next…
Dec. 19, 2020; Charlotte, NC, USA; Notre Dames Chris Tyree (25) runs in a touchdown next to Clemsons Fred Davis II (2) during the ACC Championship football game on Saturday, Dec. 19, 2020, inside Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, NC. Clemson won 34-10. Mandatory Credit: Robert Franklin/South Bend Tribune via USA TODAY NETWORK
NCAA Football: Syracuse at Notre Dame
Dec 5, 2020; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25)…
Dec 5, 2020; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Chris Tyree (25) breaks free for a touchdown run as Syracuse Orange cornerback Garett Williams (14) pursues in the fourth quarter at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Chris Tyree, RB:
“Everybody is playing except for Hamilton. All of them practiced yesterday.”
“Everybody is playing except for Hamilton. All of them practiced yesterday.”
Kelly didn’t mention Tyree by name but the sophomore running back hasn’t carried the ball since the Virginia Tech game when he suffered through turf-toe.
Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
NCAA Football: Syracuse at Notre Dame
Dec 5, 2020; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Kyren Williams (23)…
Dec 5, 2020; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Kyren Williams (23) congratulates running back Chris Tyree (25) after his fourth quarter touchdown against the Syracuse Orange at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
