Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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class. Throughout a collegiate career that included 31 starts and several clutch relief performances that helped the Irish go undefeated during the 2012 regular season, few questioned th e Lake For- est, Ill., quarter- b a c k ' s u n d e r- standing of the game. Instead, criticism of Rees b e g a n — a n d typically ended — with his phys- ical abilities. It's a percep- tion he's out to change leading up to the NFL Draft in early May. On March 20, Rees participated in Notre Dame's pro day with 15 former Irish players and displayed his skills with each of the 32 teams represented at Loftus Sports Center. "It went great," said Rees, who com- pleted 32 of 34 passes. "The drills were good and I'm happy to move on." "[I focused on] a lot of movement stuff," Rees added. "Running the 40 is just different for me, and the shuttles. But then specifically building some lower-body strength and being able to jump and make all those cuts." Since the 2013 season ended, Rees has been training at TC Boost in Chi- cago with Tommy Christian and Bob Christian. Leading up to the NFL Draft, Rees planned to continue to train in Chicago while hoping his name is called in New York. Other- wise, he will likely sign with a team as an undrafted free agent and make his case for a roster spot in training camp. Whether Rees' career is as brief as an August invite to preseason camp or several years l o n g e r, I r i s h head coach Brian Kelly has said on multiple oc- casions that he would welcome his former sig- nal-caller back as a graduate as- sistant or coach. Rees does not d w e l l o n a n y negativity that a t t i m e s s u r - rounded his Irish playing career, but rather focuses on everything that was accomplished in four years. "People are entitled to their opin- ions and whatever they want to feel they can," he said at the end of last season. "The only thing that matters to me is how my teammates feel, and I know they've had my back and I know they have positive things to say. So the most important thing for me from day one is the people in this building and how they feel about the kind of leader I was, the kind of guy I was, that I came to work every day and made people around them better and was positive. I've competed my entire career here, and that's something I try to hang my hat on. "I have respect for everyone in that locker room, and I think it's recipro- cated." ✦ Former Notre Dame signal-caller Tommy Rees com- pleted 32 of 34 passes during the program's pro day. PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND