Newsstand: ESPN’s Todd McShay ranks Notre Dame players as top-15 NFL Draft prospects
NFL Draft discussion is already underway if you know where to look or who to follow. ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay entered the chat Wednesday with a refreshed top-32 prospect ranking.
Notre Dame has two of the top 15 players on his list.
Junior tight end Michael Mayer is the No. 10 player in McShay’s rankings, followed by defensive end Isaiah Foskey at No. 13. Mayer is the first tight end listed. Foskey is the second player at his position, trailing only Clemson’s Myles Murphy.
Mayer is Notre Dame’s leading receiver, with 22 catches for 233 yards and 3 touchdowns. He has been atop 2023 tight end rankings since the first boards came out in the spring.
“Mayer’s best traits are his toughness and strength after the catch,” McShay wrote. “He’s a bulldozer with the ball in his hands, and he generates yards by breaking tackles and carrying defenders. Of his 233 receiving yards, 100 have come after the catch. He is not a speedster, but shows a lot of savvy setting up defenders at the top of stem and locating soft spots in zone.
“Mayer also has a big catch radius and reliable hands, and he does a very good job adjusting to the ball outside his frame. He has an edge as a blocker, too, though his technique is still a work in progress.”
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Foskey has come alive after a quiet first two weeks in which he totaled 1 sack and 2 quarterback pressures. He has 14 pressures and 2 sacks since.
“Foskey has a quick first step and does a good job of using length and momentum to get offensive tackles on their heels, helping him to three sacks this season,” McShay wrote. “And he excels at chopping the ball loose when he gets home. However, Foskey lacks ideal torso flexibility, and if he can’t win with pure strength, he struggles at times to advance his rush while engaged. As a run defender, he’s quick, powerful and relentless.”
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A national brand.
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Quote of the Day
“Lacey was a great player who did a lot of great things for us. But it’s a deep position. He made a decision that ultimately was best for him. We respect it. We love Jacob, and the best thing about it is he leaves here with a degree in his hand. That’s what I want for these young men. If you decide to leave in hopes of going somewhere and playing more, don’t waste this opportunity to earn a degree from this university.”
– Marcus Freeman on Jacob Lacey’s decision to leave the team and seek a transfer
Headlines of the Day
How Marcus Freeman has altered his messaging after realizing it needed a change (Patrick Engel, Blue & Gold)
Notre Dame football has No. 1 strength of schedule per Sports Reference (Tyler Horka, Blue & Gold)
Why Notre Dame football isn’t generating more turnovers (Tyler Horka, Blue & Gold)
Quick-hitters: Marcus Freeman on pregame ritual, Jacob Lacey leaving, offensive line (Patrick Engel, Blue & Gold)
Notre Dame football updated scholarship chart (Patrick Engel, Blue & Gold)
What they’re saying: Reaction to Jacob Lacey leaving Notre Dame football (Tyler Horka, Blue & Gold)
Lucky Charms: Recruits expected in for BYU vs. Notre Dame in Las Vegas (Mike Singer, Blue & Gold)
What to watch for: Game of the week, schedule for Notre Dame commits (Mike Singer, Blue & Gold)
