Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/514677
UNDER THE DOME lens of recruiting from 2012-16 (and maybe beyond), Notre Dame will likely rank among the top 10 teams with most players drafted. Timing and unexpected sidetracking with some of the draftees is a factor on how they are distributed to the NFL over that time. The lack of Fighting Irish represen- tation in this year 's draft can be ex- plained by at least three reasons: 1. Attrition From 2011 Front Seven Highlighting this top-10 class was a front seven that was second to none with Aaron Lynch, Stephon Tuitt, Ishaq Williams and Troy Niklas. One envisioned the 2015 NFL Draft would have these Irish players highly repre- sented. However, Lynch transferred to South Florida after his Freshman All- American season at Notre Dame and turned pro following his junior year. Tuitt, who earned All-America honors as a sophomore for the 12-1 team in 2012, turned pro after his junior year and was drafted in the second round. Like Tuitt, Niklas — who had shifted to tight end — declared for the draft after his junior campaign and was selected in round two. Finally, Williams incurred an aca- demic suspension prior to his senior year in 2014, and his football future is in limbo. Right there are at least three Notre Dame players that were expected to be drafted in 2015 (maybe four), but circumstances altered the course. 2. Injuries/More Academic Setbacks During the 12-1 season in 2012, ju- nior right tackle Christian Lombard looked like a future NFL prospect, more so at guard, but back surgery ended a once promising football ca- reer. Nevertheless, his 40-year decision will reap huge dividends after earn- ing a degree last year in management consulting in the top-ranked Mendoza 78*… And Counting With the University of Texas failing to have a player selected in the 2014 NFL Draft, Notre Dame owns the longest streak of at least one player drafted — 78 straight years since 1938. The NFL Draft was first held in 1936. That includes an asterisk because in 1977 Notre Dame didn't have anyone taken in the regular draft. Nevertheless, dismissed running back Al Hunter was later selected in the NFL Supplemental Draft. However, this year was the fifth time in the last 18 drafts that only one Fighting Irish player was chosen. The others were 1998 with cornerback/kick returner Allen Rossum in the third round, 2000 with quarter- back Jarious Jackson's name called in the seventh and final round, 2009 with fourth-round safety David Bruton, and 2011 with second-round tight end Kyle Rudolph, who turned pro after his junior season. Per NFLDraftHistory.com, Notre Dame is No. 2 in most players drafted with 486, behind USC's 493 (six this year). A distant third is Ohio State with 418 after getting six players selected each of the past two seasons. The Fighting Irish are third in first-round selections with 64, with offensive lineman Zack Martin, an All- Pro as a rookie, the most recent last year. Only USC (77) and Ohio State (71) have had more. — Lou Somogyi