Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Tight End U. Continued Notre Dame has a rich history of putting tight ends into the NFL. Since 2006 alone, the program has had five — Anthony Fasano, John Carlson, Kyle Rudolph, Tyler Eifert and Troy Niklas — selected in the first or second round. Ben Koyack will look to keep that trend go- ing as Notre Dame's top prospect in the year's NFL Draft class. The 6-4, 257-pounder had been compared constantly to his predecessors, and while he might not be the same level of prospect as the other Irish tight ends who went in the top two rounds of the draft, he does possess the skills to make it at the next level. "When you have a program that has a knack of having certain pros at certain positions, it helps," said Scott Wright of DraftCountdown. com. "There are certain programs that are just good at developing certain positions, and when it comes to Notre Dame, they are right there at tight end. "With Koyack, out of all the second- and third-tier tight ends in the draft, you know what you're going to get out of him. He might not have the highest upside as some of the other options in the draft, but he might have the highest floor. It's clear what type of player you're getting with him, and sometimes that's what teams want." Koyack — who participated in the NFL Com- bine — has been projected by draft experts like Wright to be selected anywhere from the third to the sixth round. He isn't the flashiest prospect, but he does a lot of small things well, and that's what gives him value. "He's big and reliable, so he's going to get drafted," Wright said. "I think on day three he's a pretty good value, but I think his lack of upside is what knocks him. But who knows, maybe the Notre Dame pedigree helps him and he gets pushed up a round or two." The Pittsburgh Steelers worked Koyack out during the Irish Pro Day on March 31, and according to Wright, the 4.72 40-yard dash was a good enough time. "He can be effective as a blocker, he can move the chains, he can be a pass catcher in the short to intimidate range, but he's not going to stretch the field." Wright said. "I think he can play as a backup in the NFL, and there is nothing wrong with that." — Andrew Ivins Tight end Ben Koyack has been projected by experts to be selected anywhere from the third to the sixth round in this year's NFL Draft. PHOTO BY JOE RAYMOND