Notre Dame 99-to-0: No. 99 Blake Grupe, kicker, Arkansas State transfer – Inside the Irish | NBC Sports

Listed measurements: 5-foot-7 ⅜, 150 kilos.
2022-23 12 months, eligibility: Sixth-year graduate switch with one season of eligibility remaining after redshirting in 2017 after which being granted one other 12 months because of the common pandemic eligibility waiver.
Depth Chart: Both Grupe or sophomore Josh Bryan will deal with Notre Dame’s placekicking duties, however neither separated himself throughout spring practices. Grupe has an expertise benefit, to say the least, so he must be presumed the starter.
Recruiting: All of the Irish actually wanted to do was contact Grupe. As soon as he was within the switch portal, that connection alone was sufficient to sway him.

“They didn’t should take a complete lot of pushing,” he mentioned upon arrival in January. “I used to be within the portal, Notre Dame reached out, and it was over. How do you not need to be part of this? Be part of a successful custom, be part of the college’s custom, all the pieces that makes Notre Dame soccer the best way it’s.

“There have been different faculties that reached out, however when Notre Dame reached out, it was sort of over with.”

Of the incoming transfers this spring, Grupe was one of many lesser heralded, as one may count on for a sixth-year kicker out of Arkansas State, however the Irish nonetheless handled Grupe like a star recruit on February’s model of Nationwide Signing Day, giving him the identical video remedy they gave each signed recruit in December.

NAME, IMAGE, LIKENESS
Grupe benefits from the Irish Players Club, as do the remainder of his teammates, however losing this part on that with every entry could be not solely repetitive but additionally threat falling down a deep rabbit gap discussing what NFTs are and what they don’t seem to be and questioning how sustainable the IPC will likely be. As a substitute, because it pertains to Grupe, let’s brainstorm methods his slight stature may very well be monetized.

It’s too dangerous Good Automobiles are now not offered in the US, per the Mercedes-Benz web site, as Grupe might have been the one faculty soccer participant ready to slot in one and thus sincerely advocate for the model.

CAREER TO DATE
Grupe’s success at Arkansas State was largely by way of short-range accuracy. His longest subject aim in his 4 seasons of kicking was from 50 yards, however he nonetheless went 64-for-86 over his profession (74.4 %). For context, Jonathan Doerer completed his collegiate profession 49-of-64 (76.6 %).

There have been ups and downs for Grupe, which he attributed to preparation greater than the rest. As a walk-on, his first season was spent studying. Then coming into the 2020 season, the pandemic robbed Grupe of spring apply work.

“I’ve had up years and I’ve had years that I’m not as pleased with,” he mentioned in January. “My freshman 12 months, as a walk-on, I had numerous studying to do, and I did and I sort of bounced again. Going into the COVID 12 months, it was a bizarre 12 months. We actually didn’t have spring ball. We missed out on numerous the preparation that results in having success. These all performed components, however on the finish of the day, I’ve to exit and get it completed.”

2018: 14-of-21 subject objectives, 35-of-38 PATs.
2019: 19-of-22 subject objectives, 53-of-53 PATs.
2020: 11-of-18 subject objectives, 43-of-45 PATs.
2021: 20-of-25 subject objectives, 31-of-32 PATs. Hit a game-winning, 42-yard subject aim with just one:17 remaining to beat Louisiana-Monroe in November.

QUOTES
Although Grupe went solely 1-of-2 within the Blue-Gold Sport, making from 36 yards and lacking from 41, the best criticism of him is the dearth of a booming leg. If Notre Dame has to depend on him to make a subject aim from longer than 50 yards, the probability of success feels slim. That’s, until you consider Irish particular groups coordinator Brian Mason.

“I do know there’s a actual flack on my man Grupe as a result of he’s the dimensions of our leprechaun,” Mason mentioned this spring. “However he’s kicking from 55 (yards) in pre-practice, and I belief him to have the ability to make it from 55. He made it simple earlier in the beginning of apply, so I feel he has greater than adequate of a leg.”

2022 OUTLOOK
The fact is, 55 yards could be greater than sufficient. Doerer’s career-long was 52 yards, and he made solely 4 subject objectives of fifty yards or extra all through his three years as Notre Dame’s field-goal kicker. If the Irish want that lengthy of a subject aim this season, it’ll almost certainly be solely as soon as.

In any other case, dialed-in Grupe’s accuracy ought to permit Bryan a 12 months of specializing in kickoff duties. If Grupe circa 2020 reveals up, then Mason could have Bryan to show to.

Will probably be that straightforward. Grupe’s accuracy will both preserve him within the job for 13 video games or it is not going to. Which will sound apparent, however Doerer might have gone right into a poor spell and retained the job given his observe report in South Bend. Grupe doesn’t have that earned cushion.

RELATED READING: Switch kicker Blake Grupe is all about historical past — taking it and making it

DOWN THE ROAD
The NFL would require a much bigger leg than Grupe has, so 2022 must be it in each soccer regard for the Missouri native.

NOTRE DAME 99-TO-0
From Blake Grupe to Braden Lenzy, the offseason countdown begins anew

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