Newsstand: ESPN eyes five Notre Dame players as top-five NFL Draft prospects at their position
Despite the 2025 NFL Draft being about 10 months away — and a 2024 college football season yet to be played — the upcoming class already features many household names. According to ESPN, the Notre Dame football program has four of them.
ESPN NFL Draft analysts Matt Miller and Jordan Reid recognized quarterback Riley Leonard, tight end Mitchell Evans, linebacker Jack Kiser and cornerback Benjamin Morrison among their top five prospects at every position. Miller also named safety Xavier Watts a player outside the top five to watch.
“If production was all that mattered, Watts would be ranked very high, as he posted seven interceptions and earned All-America honors last season,” Miller said. “But to make it at the next level, Watts must display better quickness and range. He’s also a touch undersized at 5-foot-11, 198 pounds, but there’s no questioning Watts’ eye for the football.”
Elsewhere in the Irish secondary, Miller is much more optimistic about Morrison, his No. 2 cornerback behind Michigan’s Will Johnson. Reid tapped him at No.3 behind Johnson and Colorado’s Travis Hunter.
Miller was the only one to rank Kiser, who ended up as the No. 5 linebacker.
On offense, Reid likes Leonard as his No. 4 quarterback, while Miller prefers him at No. 5. However, Miller is higher on Evans, ranking him third behind Michigan’s Colston Loveland and Georgia’s Benjamin Yurosek. Reid has Evans fifth.
Last year, the Irish saw seven former players drafted, including two in the top five of their positions: offensive tackle Joe Alt (Chargers) and linebacker Marist Liufau (Cowboys).
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Notre Dame Posts of the Weekend
Irish four-star quarterback commit Deuce Knight showcased his arm talent.
Irish women’s lacrosse player Kasey Choma capped off last season with an outstanding accomplishment.
Former Irish linebacker Reggie Brooks won the longest-drive competition at the Golic SubPar Classic.
Notre Dame Quote of the Weekend
“(Wide receivers) Coach (Mike) Brown wants me to be able to do everything. When I get up there, I’m going to learn every receiver position on the field and see what I can do. Wherever he thinks I fit best at, that’s what I want to do and be ready for it.”
— Irish three-star wide receiver commit Elijah Burress from Wayne (N.J.) DePaul Catholic on his goal once enrolling at Notre Dame.
Notre Dame Headlines of the Weekend
- ND WR commit Elijah Burress breaks down summer trips to South Bend, talks Irish targets
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- 70 days until ND football: A dominant Irish red zone defense
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- How a Chicagoland connection helped Rico Schrieber prepare for ND Irish Invasion
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- ND commit Davion Dixon feels confident Ivan Taylor will stick with the Irish, talks official visit
