Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2019 Notre Dame Football Preview
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1133608
NOTRE DAME'S NFL DRAFT STOCK RISING Through nine NFL Drafts (2011-19) in the Brian Kelly era, a total of 39 Notre Dame players have been selected, an average of 4.3 per year. On paper, that is not a dramatic improvement from the 3.8 average of predecessors Charlie Weis (19 in five seasons from 2005-09), Ty Willingham (4.7 in his three seasons from 2002-04) and Bob Davie (4.2 in five seasons from 1997-2001). And it certainly does not rival the 6.7 during the 11-year reign of Lou Holtz from 1986-96. Furthermore, exactly 50 percent of Holtz's players — 36 out of 72 — were chosen in the first three rounds. However, there are several notable facts that have indicated a recent uptick in the talent getting signed and developed the past several years. • In four of the last seven years, including the 2019 spring, a minimum of six Notre Dame players were drafted by the NFL. The high mark occurred in 2014 with eight, two of them juniors: second-round picks Stephon Tuitt along the defensive line and Troy Niklas at tight end. • The nine first-round picks during Kelly's regime — most recently defensive tackle Jerry Tillery this spring — are more than the three total Notre Dame had under predecessors Davie, Willingham and Weis in their 13 seasons combined. That trio consisted of offensive tackle Luke Petitgout (1999), center Jeff Faine (2003) and quarterback Brady Quinn (2007). In fact, the nine in the last eight years more than doubles the four first-rounders in the 17 drafts from 1995-2011, starting with defensive end Renaldo Wynn (1997). This year Tillery became the first Notre Dame defensive lineman to be chosen in the first round since Wynn 22 years ago. • Cornerback Julian Love became the seventh player under Kelly to be drafted in the first four rounds follow- ing his junior season. The others were tight end Kyle Rudolph (second) in 2011, Tuitt and Niklas both in the second in 2014, receiver Will Fuller (first) and linebacker Jaylon Smith (second) in 2016, and quarterback DeShone Kizer (second) in 2017. • In the 23 drafts from 1996-2018, Notre Dame had a running back and receiver selected in the same year only twice. This featured a 16-year drought from 2000 until 2016 (receiver Fuller and running back C.J. Prosise). This feat was achieved a third time in 24 years this spring with third-round wideout Miles Boykin and sixth- round running back Dexter Williams. With six more players selected this year, Notre Dame now has had 504 chosen since the debut of the NFL Draft in 1936. Only USC has more with 506. It is not inconceivable that in 2020, Notre Dame could match the eight produced by Kelly's staff in 2014, and maybe even have 10 players drafted by the NFL for the first time since 1994. If all goes right with health and continued produc- tion, defensively it could occur with ends Julian Ok- wara, Khalid Kareem and Daelin Hayes, safeties Alohi Gilman and Jalen Elliott, and cornerback Troy Pride Jr. On offense, it could be wide receiver Chase Claypool, quarterback Ian Book and, if they choose to turn pro after their senior years, tackle Liam Eichenberg and guard Tommy Kraemer. Other surprises also are always possible. 10 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2019 FOOTBALL PREVIEW UNDER THE DOME Cornerback Julian Love became the seventh junior under Brian Kelly to be selected in the first four rounds of the NFL Draft. PHOTO BY ANGELA DRISKELL