Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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50 SEPT. 11, 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED IRISH IN THE PROS BY COREY BODDEN F ormer Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer was projected as a first-round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft by many experts, but it was believed he would need more devel- opment before starting a game at the highest level. The Toledo, Ohio, native fell to the back half of the second round before the Cleveland Browns selected him with the No. 52 overall pick. Kizer was the fourth quarterback taken, behind North Carolina's Mitch- ell Trubisky (No. 2 to the Chicago Bears), Texas Tech's Patrick Ma- homes (No. 10 to the Kansas City Chiefs) and Clemson's Deshaun Wat- son (No. 12 to the Houston Texans). Kizer entered a quarterback room which featured former USC quar- terback Cody Kessler, whom the Browns drafted in the third round in 2016 and who played in nine games last season, and veteran Brock Os- weiler, who signed a four-year, $72 million deal with the Texans in 2016, before being traded to the Browns this offseason. It was expected that Osweiler and Kessler would battle it out for the starting job, while Kizer would continue his development and pro- gression. But after three preseason games, he had impressed Browns head coach Hue Jackson so much that he was named the starter for the season opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers Sept. 10. "He's earned the right to play through his preparation," Jackson told reporters on a conference call to announce the decision. "He's estab- lished a work ethic that I think has earned the respect of his teammates. … This is not just for the moment. We're going to get with DeShone and ride him through it all. We'll get through all this. "It's been good to watch his devel- opment throughout the offseason. Obviously, he's a young quarterback, and he still has a lot to learn. He's going to learn a lot and gain a lot of experience, and the only way you get that is by playing." In his first three preseason games, Kizer completed 25 of 49 passes for 351 yards with one touchdown and one interception. He added 47 rush- ing yards and a touchdown on eight carries. "When we drafted this young man, there was a purpose in drafting him," Jackson stated. "We thought that he had exactly what we were looking for. He has the talent, he has the makeup ... "Now, we just have to go get him and push him onto that next level." Given his status as a rookie and the notion of his talent leading into the draft, there is some caution in regards to the move. Kizer is okay with it. "There has been a lot of work that has gone into this entire process," Kizer told reporters Aug. 28. "Go- ing out and performing in preseason games is one thing, but to perform in [regular-season] games is another. Until I'm out there, everyone is going to have a right to their opinion. "If that is their opinion, then we will see week one." Kizer is the next man up in a Browns quarterback carousel that has featured 26 different starters before him since 1999, among them Notre Dame first-round pick Brady Quinn. Kizer will be the team's 15th opening day starter during that time, and the second rookie to earn that honor. NFL NOTES • Former Irish defensive lineman Kapron Lewis- Moore (played at Notre Dame from 2008‑12) signed with the Chicago Bears in January after spending four years with the Baltimore Ravens. The Bears, however, cut Lewis‑Moore Aug. 29. He has yet to sign with another club. • Cowboys linebacker Jaylon Smith could be in line for more snaps heading into the 2017 season, with starting linebacker Anthony Hitchens recover‑ ing from an injury that is expected to keep him out up to eight weeks. Dallas is still proceeding with caution with the former Irish star (2013‑15) while he returns from the devastating knee injury he suffered in the Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State in January 2016. MLB PLAYER UPDATE Through Aug. 31 • Trey Mancini (Played at Notre Dame from 2011-13), 1B/OF, Baltimore Orioles: Was hitting .291 with 23 home runs and 71 RBI in 119 games played … Also had 20 doubles and 55 runs scored. • David Phelps (2006-08), RHP, Seattle Mariners: Was 2‑1 with three holds and a 3.12 ERA since his trade from the Miami Marlins to the Mariners … For the season, has made 54 relief appearances while registering a 4‑5 record with 21 holds, 62 strikeouts and a 3.40 ERA in 55 2 ⁄3 innings. • A.J. Pollock (2007-10), OF, Arizona Diamond- backs: Was hitting .264 with nine homers, 29 RBI and 17 stolen bases in 87 games. • Jeff Samardzija (2003-06), RHP, San Francisco Giants: Posted a 9‑12 record with a 4.43 ERA in his first 27 starts of the season … Whiffed 175 batters in 176 2 ⁄3 innings of work. DeShone Kizer Earns Cleveland Browns Starting Job Kizer will be the second Browns rookie quarterback to start a season opener since 1999. PHOTO COURTESY CLEVELAND BROWNS