ESPN buying stock into Notre Dame football’s potential historic NFL Draft production
NFL Draft scouts are already admiring the talent on the 2024 Notre Dame football roster. And so is the media.
On Friday, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Jordan Reid identified 10 college football teams with the most 2025 NFL Draft prospects. Reid chose schools that evaluators project to have the most players drafted next year and ranked them into three tiers.
The Fighting Irish rounded out Tier I and are in the same company as Georgia, Ohio State and Texas. While Reid did not completely outline who from South Bend has the chance to get selected, he forecasted the Irish to have 11 draft picks in 2025.
The last time Notre Dame had 11 players drafted was in 1969. Since then, it has had 10 players selected four times: in 1975, 1979, 1991 and 1994.
Only Ohio State (14) and Georgia (16) have more players predicted to hear their names called during the draft.
ESPN calls Benjamin Morrison Notre Dame football’s top NFL Draft prospect to know
According to Reid, cornerback Benjamin Morrison is the program’s top prospect. As a sophomore, the 6-foot, 190-pound Morrison had 13 pass breakups and 3 interceptions. He was also a freshman All-American in 2022 after snagging six interceptions as a rookie.
Most NFL Draft pundits project Morrison as a first-round choice.
Reid also likes reigning Bronko Nagurski Award Winner — given to the nation’s top defender — safety Xavier Watts, who he said is a “mid-to-late round” prospect. Watts had seven interceptions in 2023, tied for the FBS lead.
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ESPN likes the Irish defensive line’s potential to have three players drafted
In addition to a skilled secondary, Al Golden’s defense also poses a dominant defensive line. Reid considers RJ Oben, Howard Cross III and Rylie Mills draftable players. According to Reid, Oben is the program’s sleeper prospect to watch.
“His mature hands and diverse pass-rushing repertoire make him a candidate to rise up draft boards,” Reid said.
Oben transferred in from Duke to team up with Cross, a second-team All-America defensive tackle, and Mills, a frequent “Freaks List” nominee. All three players have at least 14 tackles for loss and 7 sacks in their collegiate careers.
ESPN sees NFL Draft potential in the Notre Dame offense
Two players on offense have Reid’s attention.
If Duke quarterback Riley Leonard can stay healthy and return to his 2022 form, Reid said he could “rocket up (draft) boards.” Leonard gets to work with Mike Denbrock, who developed LSU’s Jayden Daniels into a Heisman Trophy winner and No. 2 pick in this year’s NFL Draft.
Reid also mentioned tight end Mitchell Evans “could move up from his current early-Day 3 status” if he returns to full form after tearing his ACL last season. Before his Week 9 injury, Evans had 29 catches for 422 yards and 1 touchdown.
