Notre Dame RB Audric Estime declares for 2024 NFL Draft

Notre Dame running back Audric Estime has declared for the NFL Draft, he announced via social media. He will opt out of the Sun Bowl as a result, but said he will attend the game in El Paso.

Estime put together a huge year as a junior, totaling 1,341 yards and 18 touchdowns to lead the Fighting Irish offense. It was quite the follow-up to a 2022 season that saw him finish with 290 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Estime is one of a handful of Notre Dame players to declare for the draft. Earlier this week, star left tackle Joe Alt announced his intentions to opt out of the Sun Bowl, and fellow lineman Blake Fisher is also NFL-bound. In addition, quarterback Sam Hartman said he also will not play in the Sun Bowl so he can prepare for the draft.

Thank you Notre Dame!💚💚 pic.twitter.com/vL4qwBStnx

— Audric Estime (@AudricEstime) December 14, 2023

Audric Estime was one of four Notre Dame players named to the AP All-American teams, joining Howard Cross III as a Third Team selection. Alt and safety Xavier Watts were named to the First Team. However, he notably wasn’t named a finalist for the Doak Walker Award as the nation’s top running back, and he said that fueled his big performance against Stanford when he totaled 238 yards and four touchdowns.

More on the 2024 NFL Draft

The 2024 NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Michigan, with the first round on Thursday, April 25, the second and third rounds on Friday, April 26, and the fourth through seventh rounds on Saturday, April 27.

Players will have the opportunity to solidify their draft stock at the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine, to be held in Indianapolis, Indiana from February 26 through March 4.

The three-day event will be broadcasted throughout the weekend on ESPN and NFL Network.

To be eligible for the NFL Draft, players must be at least three years removed from their final year of high school while having used up their collegiate eligibility. Underclassmen are able to request league approval to become eligible for the draft, as are players who have graduated prior to using up all of their collegiate eligibility.

Last season, 69 players were granted special eligibility for the 2023 NFL Draft. 13 underclassmen who had completed their college degrees were also deemed eligible to be selected.

The deadline to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft is on January 15. NFL teams will receive a full list of eligible players in the class on January 19.