Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1544783
12 SUMMER 2026 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME Early 2027 Draft Projections The first round of mock drafts and big boards for the next year's NFL Draft typically produces some comically bad projections. Like in 2015 when Notre Dame wide receiver Corey Robinson was included in a first-round mock draft for 2016 or in 2019 when Notre Dame offensive lineman Tommy Kraemer was included in a top-50 big board for the 2020 draft class. Robinson ended up retiring from college football in 2016, and Kraemer went undrafted in 2021. That means we shouldn't put too much stock in the early hype for Notre Dame players in the wave of mock drafts and big boards released for 2027 in recent weeks. But at first glance, there doesn't seem to be any unbelievable predictions for the Irish roster. The Athletic's Dane Brugler projected junior cornerback Leonard Moore and redshirt sophomore quarterback CJ Carr in his first-round mock draft. ESPN's Jordan Reid included Carr, Moore and redshirt sophomore safety Brauntae Johnson in his first-round mock. On the big board side of things, Yahoo Sports' Nate Tice released a top 25 that included Moore (No. 3) and redshirt junior defensive end Boubacar Traore (No. 22). Pro Football Focus' top 75 included Moore (No. 5), junior linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (No. 22), Carr (No. 38), junior offensive lineman Anthonie Knapp (No. 67), redshirt junior safety Adon Shuler (No. 68) and senior cornerback Christian Gray (No. 71). Will Notre Dame be able to match or exceed its two 2026 first-round draft picks — running backs Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price — next year? The Irish haven't had three first-round picks in the same draft since 1993 when defensive tackle Bryant Young, offensive tackle Aaron Taylor and safety Jeff Burris were all selected. — Tyler James Former Irish Coach Brian Kelly Tries TV Work The next step in Brian Kelly's career didn't come with an announcement or press release. The former head coach at Grand Valley State, Central Michigan, Cincinnati, Notre Dame and LSU just started mak- ing appearances on CBS Sports Network out of nowhere this April. It's unclear how frequently Kelly will work for CBS Sports, but it was the first sign of what's next following his October firing from LSU. Kelly, who is owed roughly $54 million by LSU, went 34-14 in his four seasons leading the Tigers. He traded in his stripes for suit jackets to make TV appearances for the time being. However, Kelly sug- gested he'd like to get back into coaching in an April interview with USA Today. Until then, Kelly will likely be visible on CBS Sports Network and its various platforms sharing his perspective from 43 years in coaching. A lot of his early work for CBS Sports Network focused on NFL Draft coverage, which gave him an opportunity to praise former Irish running back Jeremiyah Love and support his worthiness as a top-10 pick. One of the assignments given to Kelly was to rank his top five defensive back game wreckers of all time. He included two of his former safeties at Notre Dame, Harrison Smith and Kyle Hamilton, in his top five alongside cornerbacks Ty Law and Mel Blount and safety Jack Tatum. — Tyler James New Role For Ron Powlus The purview of Ron Powlus in Notre Dame's athletic department expanded this spring. Notre Dame director of athletics Pete Bev- acqua named Powlus as the athletic depart- ment's first chief operating officer. Powlus, whose previous title was deputy athletics director for football, will continue to have oversight of the football program and the name, image and likeness division while add- ing sports performance, international opera- tions, equipment and facilities to the scope of his job. The move came as part of a reorgani- zation of the athletic department that resulted in Garret Chapman becoming deputy athletics director of finance and Katie Capps becoming a senior associate athletics director and senior woman administrator in waiting. "The college athletics ecosystem is changing at the fastest rate in its history and this reor- ganization will give us the best opportunity to continue to provide an authentic and reward- ing Notre Dame student-athlete experience," Bevacqua said in a press release. "Moving Ron into the COO role will bring the amazing lead- ership that he's consistently exhibited with our football program to the entire athletic department. I couldn't be more excited to see how Ron leads his new divisions and how our new executive leadership team coalesces and moves us into the future at full speed." Powlus, a four-year starting quarterback at Notre Dame (1994-97), first returned to Notre Dame in 2005 as the football program's direc- tor of personnel development. After nearly two years in that position, Powlus became the team's quarterbacks coach for three seasons. Powlus coached at Akron and Kansas before re- turning again to Notre Dame as the football pro- gram's director of player development in 2015. — Tyler James Junior cornerback Leonard Moore (15) is one of several Notre Dame players receiving buzz as a potential first-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER Former Irish quarterback Ron Powlus was named the first chief operating officer in Notre Dame's athletic department. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER