NFL Draft Notebook: How Many Players Will Notre Dame Have Selected?
Last year, Notre Dame had seven players selected, including two first-round picks and four players taken in the top 50.
This year that number is projected to be much smaller. Much like the 2015 draft class that saw only tight end Ben Koyack get selected (seventh round, 229 overall), the options for the Irish are limited.
Behind quarterback DeShone Kizer — by far the most prominent Notre Dame player on NFL draft boards — only defensive linemen Jarron Jones and Isaac Rochell are good bets to be selected in the seven-round draft.
Draft Tek has Jones going in the fifth round (176) to the Cincinnati Bengals. Charlie Campbell of Walter Football projects a sixth-round selection to the New York Jets. Chad Reuter of NFL.com has Jones going in the fifth round to the Jets. Draft Blaster has Jones going in the fifth round (149) to the Los Angeles Rams.
“The Rams are changing defensive schemes, and need more defensive linemen that fit their new scheme,” Draft Blaster wrote of Jones.
In a seven-round mock draft March 21, Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski has Jones going in the fifth round (166) to the Miami Dolphins.
ESPN’s Todd McShay has Jones going in the fifth round.
“You’ve got one guy in Jones who has a lot of ability. I mean he’s got a lot of ability,” McShay said. “He moves well. Thirty-five-and-a-half inch arms and 85 3/8-inch wingspan. That’s ridiculous.
“His football character is in question, let’s put it that way. He played 36 games, only 18 starts with all that talent. He was nicked up. He has the Lisfranc (foot injury), he had the torn MCL. It seemed like this past year was the first time he was really kind of healthy. The tape is up and down. Is he going to have the self-discipline to stay in shape and do what he needs to do to be successful and maximize what is a very loaded toolbox.”
The 6-foot-6, 315-pound Jones had 45 tackles, two sacks and a team-high 11 tackles for loss as a fifth-year senior.
Draft Tek projects Rochell will go in the fourth round (130) to the Houston Texans. Charlie Campbell of Walter Football has Rochell going undrafted. Bleacher Report projects a sixth-round selection (212) to the Green Bay Packers. Reuter of NFL.com does not have Rochell being taken in the draft.
Draft Blaster has Rochell going in the fourth round (144) to the Indianapolis Colts.
“Rochell can set the edge and be a powerful left defensive end that can be a force against the run,” the site wrote about Rochell.
McShay also gave Rochell a fifth-round grade.
“You’ve got Rochell who doesn’t really have the skillset that Jones has,” McShay said. “He’s got some limitations, that’s the best way to put it. He’s 6-4, 280. He runs a 4.9 (40-yard dash). Solid numbers but nothing special. But he plays his tail off. You watch him versus the run and he can set a strong edge, he can take on blocks. He chases, he pursues. He’s just never going to be a really good pass rusher, but he’s strong and consistent versus the run.”
The 6-4, 290-pound Rochell had 55 tackles, one sack and seven tackles for loss as a senior team captain.
Linebacker James Onwualu, a versatile player who would likely be a special teams player at the next level, is Notre Dame’s best chance at having a fourth player selected behind Kizer, Jones and Rochell.
Reuter's mock draft has Onwaulu going in the seventh round (221 overall) to the Chicago Bears. Draft Tek has Onwualu going in the seventh round (245) to the Kansas City Chiefs.
The highest projection for Onwualu is an April 5 mock draft by Josh Norris of Rotoworld. He has Onwualu going in the fourth round (142) to the Houston Texans.
“I see a lesser Benardrick McKinney in Onwualu,” Norris wrote.
NFL Network’s Mike Mayock gave his thoughts on Onwualu in February.
“I really like Onwualu,” Mayock noted. “He doesn’t have as much talent as maybe you want, but you want to talk about a hard-working, tough kid. Assignment sound, knows what he’s doing.
Onwualu, a captain, led Notre Dame in tackles for loss (11.5, including three sacks) and forced fumbles (2), and was third in passes broken up (5) and tackles (75) in 2016.
“Onwualu is going to be late draftable or a free agent, but he’s going to play for special teams and he’s not going to make any mistakes mentally.
No other Notre Dame players, including cornerback Cole Luke, running back Tarean Folston, safety Avery Sebastian, tight end Chase Hounshell (who finished his career at Ohio State) and long snapper Scott Daly are likely to be drafted.
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