Overview
Position: Tight end
Height: 6’4″
Weight: 249 pounds
School: Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.70 seconds
Bench press: 22 reps (tied for second-best among tight ends)
Vertical jump: 36.0 inches (fifth-best among tight ends)
Broad jump: 10 feet (fifth-best among tight ends)
Three-cone drill: 7.27 seconds
20-yard shuttle: 4.34 seconds
60-yard shuttle: 11.93 seconds
Alize Mack 2019 NFL Draft Profile
Few tight ends were as prized coming out of high school in 2014 than Alize Mack. Rated the top player at the position nationally by ESPN and 247Sports, the Las Vegas native won four state titles during his career at Bishop Gorman. It included a resounding 70-28 demolition of Reed in his final game with the school before heading off to college. Seven Pac-12 programs offered him a scholarship but he ended up picking Notre Dame as his school of choice in January 2015.
Mack saw action in all 13 games and even made one start as a true freshman. But his impact was muted as he made just 13 catches for 190 yards and didn’t score a single touchdown. A year later, he ran into academic issues and was ruled ineligible for the entirety of the season. He didn’t miss much on the field as the Irish stumbled to a 4-8 campaign.
After regaining academic eligibility, Mack returned to the field in 2017 and made six starts. Though he registered his first touchdown grab against Miami on November 11th, once again his production was rather ordinary as he managed just 166 yards receiving. He enjoyed a bit of a bump during his senior season in South Bend. He started every game and his 360 yards and three touchdown catches led all Notre Dame tight ends. The highlight of the season was his two-touchdown effort in a 42-13 win over Florida State.
Strengths
- a chiseled, well-proportioned frame with a powerful lower body;
- plus initial burst post-snap;
- showcases impressive straight-line quickness and ability to accelerate to full speed;
- can line up in multiple spots on the line of scrimmage, including the slot;
- able to work the middle of the field on intermediate level throws;
- shows focus and courage making catches in a crowd;
- has good overall length which allows him to project a sizable catch radius;
- can improvise and get open for his quarterback on extended plays;
Weaknesses
- fairly basic as a route-runner;
- routes lack sharpness at transition points;
- doesn’t show consistent elusiveness after the catch;
- can get overwhelmed by maulers when in-line blocking;
- could struggle against high-end edge speed when pass protecting;
- takes inefficient angles when blocking in the second level;
- production in college didn’t live up to expectations coming out of high school.
NFL Comparison: Austin Hooper
Teams With Need at Position: Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Jets
Projection: Fourth to fifth round
Bottom Line
What you’re getting in Mack is an athletic tight end with soft hands and the ability to consistently haul in contested balls. He tested rather favorably at the Combine, especially with respect to upper body strength and explosiveness. Though his acumen as a blocker, both in-line and downfield, needs to improve, there’s much to suggest he has the physical tools that can enable him to do so.
But talent evaluators do have legitimate concerns that Mack won’t be effective blocking against next level speed and strength. His route-running also lacks polish and sharpness when changing direction. It’s also possible that athletic linebackers who excel in coverage, as well as physical box safeties, will be able to keep him at bay in terms of making an impact in the passing game.
Teams looking to infuse their roster with depth at the tight end position will certainly have Mack on their radar. If coaches can successfully aid in his development from a blocking standpoint, it will do wonders for his every-down potential. But as it currently stands, his ceiling may be limited when it comes to the possibility of getting consistent starter reps in the pros.
