What They’re Saying About Notre Dame Players At The Senior Bowl

Four Notre Dame players participated in the 2020 Senior Bowl yesterday, suiting up for the North team.

The players were cornerback Troy Pride Jr., wide receiver Chase Claypool, and safeties Alohi Gilman and Jalen Elliott. Each player had a productive week and may have improved their draft stock.

The North team won 34-17.

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Claypool had a productive week of practice at the Senior Bowl, and had two catches for six yards and a touchdown in the game.

He also showed off his speed and was one of the fastest players for the North squad.

This should put him in the discussion to be a high overall pick.

Everyone knows Pride is fast, but he really showed off his ability as a cover corner at the Senior Bowl

“Pride was the one cornerback prospect who consistently stood out and held his own,” The Athletic’s Dane Brugler wrote. “Although he was beaten a few times, he had more wins during one-on-ones than any other cornerback prospect, using his athleticism to blanket different types of receivers.

“Anyone who studied his Notre Dame tape knew he was fast — that wasn’t a surprise — but his ability to stay controlled mid-transition with little wasted motion was a welcome sight and something he didn’t consistently do in college, giving up too much spacing.”

Considered an early fourth-round pick entering the week, Pride now has a legitimate case to be one of the top-10 players drafted at his position.

He also nabbed an interception in the game.

Gilman was known as a hard-hitting safety, but his coverage skills really stood out during Senior Bowl practices.

Like Claypool, he also showed he was faster than most realized during practice.

Unfortunately, Gilman wasn’t able to play in the game due to an injury, but the practice is what’s most important when it comes to improving his draft stock.

Surprisingly, Elliott may have improved his draft stock the most at the Senior Bowl.

“Occasionally on film, Elliott looked like a fish out of water in man coverage, giving up huge separation [see 2019 USC tape],” Brugler wrote. “However, that wasn’t the case during practices, showing enough fluidity and route recognition to stay attached to tight ends or backs. Elliott was also one of the few who consistently competed with Trautman, like on this rep during one-on-ones.

“The NFL feedback on Elliott entering the week was all over the place, from fourth round to priority free agent. But after his week in Mobile, there will be at least a few teams that push their grade into the solid day three category.”

He was also given the North team’s defensive back Practice Player of the Week award.

He also had two tackles during the game.

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