Skip to main content

Newsstand: Where NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. ranks Joe Alt, other Notre Dame football players

Kyle Kellyby:Kyle Kelly03/25/24

ByKyleKelly

Former Notre Dame left tackle Joe Alt is a top NFL Draft prospect - © Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Former Notre Dame left tackle Joe Alt is a top NFL Draft prospect - © Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

On Friday, ESPN NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. released his latest big board and positional rankings for the 2024 NFL Draft. Kiper included three Notre Dame football players in his rankings.

Former Fighting Irish left tackle Joe Alt was the only one to crack the Top 25 while running back Audric Estimé and linebacker Marist Liufau found spots among their positions. Kiper has Alt as his No. 8 overall player and top offensive tackle this year. 

“Alt started 33 games at left tackle for the Fighting Irish, and I was most impressed by his technique on a snap-to-snap basis,” Kiper said. “(Alt) rarely gets caught out. He mirrors well in pass protection, adjusting easily to secondary moves from edge rushers. He does a great job keeping his huge frame between the defender and his quarterback. In his career, he allowed just 16 total pressures in more than 1,000 pass-block snaps.

“Alt’s father, John, was a first-round offensive tackle, too, going No. 21 overall to the Chiefs in 1984. He was 6-7, 275 pounds when he entered the NFL, which shows you how the game has changed since then.”

Estimé and Liufau ranked Nos. 8 and 9 at their respective positions. Kiper tapped Texas running back Jonathon Brooks as his top running back. He had Texas A&M’s Edgerrin Cooper as the No. 1 off-ball linebacker. 

Top 10

  1. 1

    Michigan loses QB

    Carter Smith decommits from Wolverines

    Breaking
  2. 2

    Hunter Heisman

    Colorado star becomes betting favorite

  3. 3

    Terrible calls

    10 worst CFB ref blunders

    Hot
  4. 4

    Nightmare scenario

    ACC tiebreak chaos

  5. 5

    Donald Trump

    Former President nixes PSU vs. Ohio State

View All

This year’s NFL Draft begins on April 25 in Detroit.

Notre Dame Posts of the Weekend

The Irish women’s basketball team tipped off the start of the NCAA Tournament with a win at home on Saturday.

Irish graduate student outfielder David Glancy hit a grand slam against Miami on Sunday.

Irish freshman defensive lineman Bryce Young has the attention of coach Marcus Freeman.

Notre Dame Quote of the Weekend

Bryce Young has stood out physically, I think more than anything, physically being college-ready. He’s got work to do like all of them do, but he’s the one that’s probably stood out the most, I think just being physically ready at this point.”

— Freeman on Young during Saturday’s news conference. 

Notre Dame Headlines of the Weekend

You may also like