Skip to main content
notre-dame logo

Newsstand: Pro Football Focus names 8 Notre Dame players on 2025 NFL Draft big board

IMG_9992by:Tyler Horka•about 15 hours•

tbhorka

Benjamin Morrison and Xavier Watson
Notre Dame cornerback Benjamin Morrison (left) and graduate student safety Xavier Watts (right). (Mike Miller/Blue & Gold)

The conclusion of the college football season earlier this week means two things are coming up quick — spring practices and the NFL Draft. As it pertains to the later, Pro Football Focus updated its 2025 big board on Jan. 21. There are eight Notre Dame representatives on it.

Here they are:

• No. 16 CB Benjamin Morrison
• No. 45 S Xavier Watts
• No. 103 QB Riley Leonard
• No. 115 LB Jack Kiser
• No. 154 DT Rylie Mills
• No. 188 TE Mitchell Evans
• No. 234 DT Howard Cross III
• No. 260 WR Beaux Collins

Of the eight, Morrison is the only one with eligiblity remaining. He’d be a true senior if he came back to South Bend for the 2025 season. Obviously, though, that can be viewed as rather unlikely considering his standing as the Fighting Irish’s top-rated prospect.

The Irish produced seven NFL Draft picks a year ago. There was a former Notre Dame player picked in every round except for the fourth and sixth, starting with offensive tackle Joe Alt in the first. The 2025 NFL Draft takes place in Green Bay, Wisc., from April 24 to 26.

Notre Dame tweets of the day

Marcus Freeman was named the Paul “Bear” Bryant Coach of the Year late Wednesday night.

Notre Dame cornerback Leonard Moore is crazy fast. He was just a true freshman in 2024.

The Fighting Irish women’s basketball team is back in action Thursday night.

Fighting Irish quote of the day

“I try to hang my hat of all of it. I try to hang my hat on, first of all, you got to recruit. Identify. Then once you get them there, then you want to develop them and mold them into great young men on and off the field. But also, how can we get them to their dreams and goals?

“That’s my goal in coaching. And doing that in that in the system of our defense, to allow them to get to their dreams and goals, I always tell them, ‘I don’t want you to just go to the NFL. I want to stay in the NFL.’ So we got to build the habits and the tools now to allow you to be able to do that.”

— Notre Dame defensive backs coach Mike Mickens on why he’s ready to be a defensive coordinator

Bue & Gold headlines of the day

• Irish vs. Ohio State snap counts, participation chart: Offense
• Irish vs. Ohio State snap counts, participation chart: Defense
• Irish guard Sam Pendleton enters NCAA transfer portal

• Fighting Irish football WR Deion Colzie enters NCAA Transfer Portal
• Fighting Irish wide receiver Jayden Thomas enters NCAA Transfer Portal
• Catching up with CJ Carr: Notre Dame freshman 100% healthy, ready for starting QB competition

• Lucky Charms: Notre Dame still in pursuit of Big Ten commit
• ‘Just the beginning’: Why Notre Dame will be back, despite loss in national championship
• FanDuel Sportsbook features two Notre Dame players in 2025 Heisman Trophy odds

• Notre Dame defensive coordinator Al Golden accepts same position with Bengals
• Who could replace Al Golden as Notre Dame defensive coordinator?
• WATCH: Reacting to Al Golden news, Notre Dame transfer portal departures, more

You may also like