Five years ago, the thought of kicking for Notre Dame in Ohio Stadium to start the 2022 season was the furthest thing from Blake Grupe’s mind.
Okay, maybe not the furthest. His mother grew up in Marion, Ind. and attended St. Joseph’s College in Rensselaer, Ind. His grandfather played baseball at Indiana University in Bloomington. His aunt played basketball at Ball State in Muncie, Ind.
But when Grupe (pronounced groupie) arrived at Notre Dame a couple of weeks ago as a sixth-year grad-transfer from Arkansas State where he set school and Sun Belt Conference scoring records, he followed the yellow brick road – with blue-and-gold hues — that has placed him in South Bend, Ind. to compete with red-shirt Josh Bryan for the right to replace Jonathan Doerer in 2022.
“I figured with what I’ve been able to do and the success I’ve had throughout my career, there had to be some good opportunities out there,” Grupe said.
One of those opportunities was Notre Dame. It was the only one he needed.
“I was in the portal Sunday night and the next day, Notre Dame called,” Grupe said. “There were other schools that reached out, but after Notre Dame reached out, there was no reason for me to talk to anybody else after that. They offered a scholarship and I was packing my stuff and heading to South Bend.”
In Grupe, the Irish are getting a very experienced college kicker. His 354 points at Arkansas State are just 13 less than Justin Yoon’s all-time mark at Notre Dame.
His two best seasons came in 2019 as a red-shirt sophomore and 2021 as a red-shirt senior. Grupe converted 19-of-22 field goals in 2019 and 20-of-25 in 2021. He struggled during the pandemic season with just 11 field goals made on 18 attempts.
All told, including his freshman season when he made 14-of-21, Grupe was 64-of-86 (74.4 percent) and 162-of-169 on extra points (95.8 percent) for the Red Wolves.
His range is fairly limited. He hit a 50-yarder this past season, a 47-yarder as a red-shirt freshman and a 46-yarder as a red-shirt sophomore. Up to 39 yards, he made 47-of-56 (83.9 percent). From 40 yards and beyond, he was 18-of-30 (60 percent). Grupe was not Arkansas State’s kickoff man in 2021.
Grupe could have stayed in Jonesboro, Arkansas for his final year of collegiate competition, but he felt there was more out there for him. He shot for the stars.
“I wanted a new test,” Grupe said. “I wanted to go where I could play big-time college football. I wanted to go to a place that had tradition, a winning tradition. I wanted to go to a place that would compete for the college football playoff and national championship game.
“Everything that Notre Dame provides is what I was looking for.”
Grupe speaks confidently when asked what Notre Dame fans can expect from him if he wins the job this fall.
“They’re going to get a guy that’s been there and done that,” Grupe said. “I started for four years. I played in 49, 50 games. I have the most field goals in Sun Belt history, school history, most points in school history…
“They’re going to get a guy that’s not afraid of the moment and does all the preparation to have success. They’re going to find a guy that is confident, never going to let the moment shake him and will go out there and do the job.”
Grupe, like his father during his college days at Southeast Missouri State, was a soccer player who became a college football kicker. He didn’t play football until his sophomore year in high school, but achieved some success, including in some competitive kicking camp settings.
“I thought, ‘You know what, I might have a chance at this,’” Grupe said.
A chance was all Grupe needed.
“I had one walk-on offer out of high school,” said Grupe, who walked on at Arkansas State before earning a scholarship. “It’s crazy how with one opportunity, I was able to do what I did there. Now that I’m here, you just keep climbing the ladder.”
Grupe has not allowed his lack of physical stature to dissuade him from his dreams.
“You’ve got to be mentally tough, mentally strong. All those things you would think,” Grupe said.
“But I’ve grown up being confident. If you put in the preparation and you put in the work, you know that you can have success. Once you wrap your mind around it that you’re the guy, you just roll with it.”
Grupe’s trek to South Bend for the start of the spring semester was his first. The inch or two of snow on the ground was a first for him as well. Grupe looks as his opportunity to attend and kick for Notre Dame as a collection of experiences.
One of the three classes Grupe is taking this spring is a “Notre Dame in America” class to learn more about his new tradition-rich university.
Part of the full Notre Dame experience for Grupe includes a “radical” number change. He wore 25 his first couple years with the Red Wolves and then switched to 0 when the NCAA included it a couple of years ago.
When he arrived at Notre Dame, he asked for 0, but Braden Lenzy’s decision to return in 2022 nixed that. He asked for 1, but Notre Dame doesn’t use the No. 1. He asked for 25. Nope. Chris Tyree and Philip Riley. He settled on 99, which he’ll share with defensive lineman Rylie Mills.
“I’m not actually particular about my number,” Grupe said. “Obviously, single digits are pretty good, but so is 99. I had to pick something that was flashy like zero. I thought, ‘Might as well go to the other end of the spectrum and grab 99.’”
Grupe recognizes the step up from 30,406-seat Centennial Bank Stadium at Arkansas State to Notre Dame and its worldwide appeal. He believes he’s up for the task.
“Obviously, it will be a bigger platform,” Grupe said. “I’ve played against Bama and Georgia. Obviously, the moment will be bigger. Being in here with all the guys and having the ND on my chest is pretty surreal. I’m sure the first time in the stadium will be the exact same way.
“But a football field is a football field. The uprights are just as tall and wide as any other field in the country. I’ve never been afraid of the moment. I’m excited to prove myself.”
