Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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to get by me, I think that's something I can definitely take pride in. It's some- thing I work a lot at. "It's a great opportunity to learn from two of the best guys. I'm excited for the opportunity, I'm excited to learn from them and I'm excited to get to work." Although Koyack was the only Notre Dame draftee this year, several other former Irish players will get their chance to make NFL rosters this summer. Wideout DeVaris Daniels signed with the Minnesota Vikings, kicker Kyle Brindza with the Detroit Lions and cornerback Cody Riggs with the Tennessee Titans, while a few others have received NFL tryouts. 2016 DRAFT COULD BE IRISH-HEAVY Two years ago, Notre Dame tied Alabama for the second most draftees in the land — producing eight picks in the 2014 edition of the event. Despite just one selection this season, they should contend to lead the country in that category once again in 2016 with several possible first-round selections. The group of next year 's potential draftees is led by senior left tackle Ronnie Stanley, who received a sec- ond-round grade this offseason but decided to return to school. He could be in the running for the No. 1 overall pick next year. Several draft analysts considered him a first-round possibil- ity in this year 's draft; CBS Sports' Dane Brugler wrote he "might have been the top offensive lineman drafted this year had he declared early." He is just one of six Irish players who have already been dubbed po- tential first-round picks next year by various draftniks around the Internet. Blue and Gold Illustrated checked in on eight way-too-early 2016 mock drafts, which all included just the first round, and he was included in each of them NOTRE DAME PLAYERS IN WAY-TOO-EARLY 2016 MOCK DRAFTS ESPN's Todd McShay No. 10 overall — LT Ronnie Stanley No. 24 — LB Jaylon Smith CBS Sports' Dane Brugler No. 2 — Stanley No. 15 — Smith No. 23 — WR Corey Robinson CBS Sports' Rob Rang No. 3 — Stanley No. 32 — Robinson RotoWorld's Josh Norris No. 3 — Stanley No. 17 — Smith No. 19 — OL Nick Martin Sports Illustrated's Chris Burke No. 2 — Stanley Sporting News' Eric Galko No. 4 — Stanley No. 12 — DL Sheldon Day The Big Lead's Jason McIntyre No. 8 — Stanley No. 24 — Smith No. 28 — Day SB Nation's Dan Kadar No. 3 — Stanley No. 7 — Smith Bleacher Report's Matt Miller No. 1 — Stanley No. 7 — Smith No. 15 — Day No. 22 — CB KeiVarae Russell No. 31 — Robinson