Eight more NFL Scouting Combine invitations were extending this year than last year.
The NFL released Thursday the list of 329 draft prospects invited to participate in this year’s scouting combine, which will be held again in Indianapolis from Feb. 24 through March 3.
Eight former Notre Dame players received invitations this year: cornerback Benjamin Morrison, safety Xavier Watts, quarterback Riley Leonard, linebacker Jack Kiser, defensive tackle Rylie Mills, tight end Mitchell Evans, wide receiver Beaux Collins and defensive tackle Howard Cross III. Most, if not all, of Notre Dame’s picks in this year’s NFL Draft, which will be held in Green Bay, Wisc., on April 24-26, will come from the group.
SUBSCRIBE TO INSIDE ND SPORTS TO STAY IN THE KNOW ON NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS
More Content
► Seven Notre Dame redshirts who can springboard into sophomore seasons
► Notre Dame makes official the hiring of running backs coach Ja'Juan Seider
► Notre Dame WBB turns to defense in first test as the nation's No. 1 team
► Three takeaways from Notre Dame MBB’s home loss to Louisville
► Rivals recruiting scoop: Notes from Under Armour camp in Dallas
But not every combine participant will be drafted. And not all draft picks will be combine participants. In last year’s NFL Draft, 257 selections were made in the seven rounds. Of the 321 prospects invited to last year’s scouting combine, 239 of them were drafted, which is nearly 75%.
Ahead of next week’s NFL Scouting Combine, Inside ND Sports took a look at how draft analysts across the country have ranked Notre Dame’s draft prospects.
CB Benjamin Morrison
ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.: No. 2 cornerback
Pro Football Focus: No. 16 overall, No. 3 cornerback
NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah: No. 45 overall, No. 5 cornerback
The Athletic’s Dane Brugler: No. 55 overall, No. 7 cornerback
S Xavier Watts
PFF: No. 44 overall, No 2 safety
Brugler: No. 46 overall, No. 3 safety
Kiper: No. 4 safety
QB Riley Leonard
PFF: No. 108 overall, No. 6 quarterback
Kiper: Just missed top 10 quarterbacks list
LB Jack Kiser
PFF: No. 123 overall, No. 8 linebacker
Kiper: Just missed top 10 off-ball LBs
DL Rylie Mills
PFF: No. 131 overall, No. 14 interior defensive lineman
TE Mitchell Evans
PFF: No. 134 overall, No. 7 tight end
Kiper: No. 8 TE
WR Beaux Collins and DT Howard Cross III
Excluded from any of the big boards cited
DE R.J. Oben (not invited to combine)
PFF: No. 154 overall, No. 28 edge
Sources cited:
Top 25 big board and position rankings by ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. (updated Feb. 4)
Top 32 big board by The Ringer’s Danny Kelly (updated Jan. 29)
Top 50 big board by NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah (updated Jan. 28)
Top 50 big board by NBC Sports’ Connor Rogers updated Feb. 18
Top 100 big board by The Athletic’s Dane Brugler (updated Feb. 11)
Top 200 draft prospects by Pro Football Focus (updated Feb. 10)
---------------------------------------------------------------
• Talk with Notre Dame fans on The Insider Lounge.
• Subscribe to the Inside ND Sports podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, SoundCloud, Podbean or Pocket Casts.
• Subscribe to the Inside ND Sports channel on YouTube.
• Follow us on Twitter: @insideNDsports, @EHansenND and @TJamesND.
• Like us on Facebook: Inside ND Sports
• Follow us on Instagram: @insideNDsports
