Category: Notre Dame NFL Draft

Veteran Notre Dame Offensive Tackle Show High Praise

Liam Eichenberg will be entering his third season as a starter for Notre Dame in 2020 and PFF sees big things for his future.

Liam Eichenberg took a leap last year at Notre Dame, turning into one of the better offensive tackles in the country.  He didn’t allow a sack all season long and although still not spectacular, his ability in the run game undoubtedly improved a significant margain.

Pro Football Focus has taken notice of Eichenberg who this weekend they called the fifth best offensive tackle prospect for the 2021 NFL Draft.

PFF Says of Eichenberg:

Eichenberg is an extremely solid, if unspectacular, tackle prospect. He saw his performance take a massive leap from his first to his second season as a starter. His pass-blocking grade went from 63.5 in 2018 to 85.6 last year and his run blocking grade from 60.8 to 78.8.

Eichenberg didn’t allow a sack last season but did account for 11 penalties, the most of any Notre Dame player.

Eliminate a few of those mental errors and continue to improve in the run game and you may be looking at one of the very best left tackles in all of college football when you watch Liam Eichenberg on Saturday’s in 2020.

Notre Dame in NFL: Four Irish Named to PFF’s Top 50

PFF ranked the 50 best players entering the 2020 NFL season. Four Notre Dame players made the list and one star QB shockingly didn’t.

Who are the 50 best players in the National Football League?  If you ask 100 people then likely nobody of that 100 shares the same 50 names.  However, there are some obvious ones that’d be on all lists if they’re done honestly.

Pro Football Focus released their list of the top 50 NFL players entering the 2020 season and some obvious names made it and at least one name that most would probably have in their lists was nowhere to be found.

More on that last part later but for now let’s look at Notre Dame’s representation as four former Fighting Irish players found themselves listed while one player made a run at the top overall spot.

For the entire list – check out Pro Football Focus.

No. 48 – Ronnie Stanley, OT, Baltimore Ravens

Pages: Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, Page 4, Page 5, Page 6

ESPN’s McShay Updates ’21 NFL Draft Board, Irish Prospect Makes the List

There was one Notre Dame player listed as a top NFL draft prospect after he exploded on the scene last year.

The NFL Draft brought many fans a piece of sports back into their lives a little over a month ago and ESPN’s Todd McShay is already look ahead to the 2021 edition. He has released his NFL Draft rankings and the Irish were represented with fourth-year junior defensive end Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah checking in as the 17th best prospect (insider article).

McShay is enamored with Owusu-Koramoah as he “was an impact player for the Fighting Irish last season. I love everything about his tape. He is fast, he is instinctive and he is only getting stronger as he develops.”

Owusu-Koramoah blew up last year, totaling 80 tackles with 5.5 sacks, 13.5 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles and 2 recoveries along with 4 passes defended. After two years sitting behind Te’von Coney and Drue Tranquill and learning, Owusu-Koramoah honed his craft and just kept working. The time paid off making a big impact on defense and creating a hype train for the 2020 season.

Coming out of high school in Virginia Owusu-Koramoah was seen as an athlete which might be the reason he was just the 456th ranked player in the nation according to the 247Sports composite. He wasn’t highly recruited, the best two other offers Owusu-Koramoah had were Michigan State and Virginia. You have to give credit to defensive coordinator Clark Lea, as he identified the talent and developed Owusu-Koramoah into a potential first round draft pick. I expect a huge season from the talented linebacker and Owusu-Koramoah should be hearing his name called early in next years draft if he declares.

Mel Kiper, Jr. Weighs in on Ian Book in NFL

Can Ian Book of Notre Dame play quarterback in the NFL? Draft analyst Mel Kiper, Jr. weighed in over the weekend with his thoughts.

Anyone who follows the NFL Draft knows that Mel Kiper, Jr. is the guru of all of it.  Even though several of his predictions end up being nowhere near to correct, he’s been doing this as long as any other expert and is the first name most think of when draft experts are discussed.

Kiper joined the ESPN College Football podcast recently and shared his opinions on the 2021 NFL Draft class of quarterbacks while offering a breakdown of Notre Dame’s current signal caller, Ian Book.

“I’m a big Notre Dame fan, as you know,” Kiper said.
-Disclaimer:  I actually had no idea about this. I know he’s been more than generous about some Notre Dame players scouting reports over the years but I had no idea he was actually an open Notre Dame fan.  Not that it really matters. Anyway, back to Book.

“Ian Book is just a good college quarterback. I think, as a backup in the NFL, that’s what you’re hoping maybe he can develop into. He’s not Jake Fromm. Look where Jake Fromm went, fifth round. Is he as good as Jake Fromm? No. His grade is not going to be as high. Jake Fromm went in the fifth round to be in Buffalo backing up Josh Allen. Ian Book is just a good college quarterback, consistent week in and week out.”

“I have him at nine in terms of the quarterbacks. He’s in that mid-round to late-round type of guy.”

Mel Kiper, Jr. on Ian Book as a potential NFL Quarterback

I like that he brings up the comparison to Fromm because there is a lot to compare there for Notre Dame fans.  When you think back to the 2019 game against Georgia what was the biggest difference in the game?

Notre Dame’s defense could play with Georgia’s but the difference between Fromm and Book was as telling as anything else that night.  Fromm made what would be seen as closer to “big time throws” while Book simply didn’t.

If Fromm was worthy of a fifth round pick, my best guess is that it’s borderline at best that Book would even be drafted right now.  That said, there is a full season of football (hopefully) for Book’s stock to (hopefully) grow.

Fromm was nowhere near an elite college quarterback, at least when you’re talking Joe Burrow, Trevor Lawrence or Justin Fields, but he was also a good college quarterback.

I don’t have a ton of faith in Ian Book making an enormous leap and and getting much higher than ninth in most rankings of potential quarterbacks in the 2021 NFL Draft, but he is a solid college quarterback and clearly the best option for Notre Dame as the 2020 season approaches.

College Football Morning Announcements for April 8

Listen in to the College Football Morning Announcements. Jim Harbaugh proposes NFL Draft changes, Oregon large crowd ban & 25 best coaches!

Happy Friday!  Congrats, in a world where many of us have trouble recalling what day of the week it actually is anymore, you’ve made it to another weekend.  Or, you’re at least only a few hours away from one, I should say.

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The latest edition of Nick Shepkowski’s College Football Morning Announcements is out.  In it you’ll find:

  • Jim Harbaugh speaking some truths about the NFL Draft rules – Wolverines Wire
  • One of the lamest annual events on the sports calendar took place – (my words, no article here…yet 😉
  • Oregon’s Governor says no large crowds at September football games – Fighting Irish Wire
  • Top 25 College Football Coaches per 247 Sports – Is Brian Kelly one of 10 best?  – Fighting Irish Wire
  • And Notre Dame picks up their 10th commitment in the 2021 recruiting class as defensive end Jason Onye of Rhode Island gives his commitment – Fighting Irish Wire

Subscribe to Nick Shepkowski’s CFB Morning Announcements on Apple Podcasts

Notre Dame Football Lands Two on 2021 CBS Big Board

CBS released their top 100 big board for the 2021 NFL Draft and on it you find two Notre Dame offensive linemen but nobody else from ND.

The NFL Draft came and went almost two weeks ago now and for those make their livings off the draft, evaluations for the 2021 version have already begun.  We’ll have a bit on that in the coming days no doubt I wanted to share with you the big board that CBS has put together.

Two Notre Dame players make the top 100 and it’s not a surprise to see either as offensive tackle Liam Eichenberg checks in at 38 and right guard Tommy Kraemer is rated 55.

Both are near elite in pass protection but not near the road-graders that we’ve seen in the run game compared to a few NFL stars that have played for Notre Dame in recent years.

For anyone who watched last year you saw an offensive line that struggled against the better opponents in run blocking, specifically Georgia and Michigan.

I’m again surprised that outside linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah isn’t on this list.  If you’re doing a mock of the first round or two, fine, I get it.  To not be included in the top 100 overall, though?

I know a players draft forecast isn’t solely based on production but in one year he was responsible for 13.5 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks.  Sure, the pass rush game won’t offer as much help to him this year but it will also provide what should be a better chance to shine, too.

Can Eichenberg and Kraemer grow where their ability in the run game nears their ability in the pass game?  And can I buy draft stock in JOK right now?  I really want to invest in it because this is yet another draft production that is undervaluing a star level talent.

Notre Dame/Bears: Cole Kmet Gets Fitting First NFL Number

Notre Dame product got his first NFL jersey number Saturday.
That number is fitting for a Chicago kid to get to wear for the Bears.

Notre Dame product and second round draft pick of the Chicago Bears, Cole Kmet got his jersey number assignment for 2020 Saturday and for a young man who grew up in Chicagoland, it’s about as fitting as a number can be for a Chicago Bear.

So long to the 84 that Kmet wore at Notre Dame, Kmet will be showing off 85 in blue and orange this football season.

For a kid who grew up a Bears fan it feels oddly fitting in a way that he’ll wear the number that associates with perhaps the most famous football team from a single season in NFL history.

Cole Kmet:  85, Bears.

Pretty cool for a guy who grew up with a Brian Urlacher (not an ’85 Bear) Fathead on his bedroom wall.

Study Shows Notre Dame Ranks Among Best in Developing Talent

An analyzation of top talent and getting them drafted into the NFL see’s Notre Dame as one of the best in the country.

The NFL is a measuring stick for college football teams as to how they are able to improve their players once they hit campus. Over a five year period from 2011-2015, 247Sports took a deep dive into evaluating talent development, calling it their “Development Rating.”

Points are awarded to players inside their Top 247 who were drafted, with an emphasis on higher talent being drafted earlier and omitting some players, such as one’s who medically retired. The Irish finished as the 10th highest rated school in the time frame, having 42.9% of Brian Kelly’s player’s who qualified drafted in that span.

Chris Hummer, who collected the data, lumped Stanford along with the Irish due to their high academic standards and being able to overcome that and still produce NFL talent. “Stanford and Notre Dame have had their swoons in play over the last decade, but both produced a quartet of Top247 first-round selections within this recruiting period. They both also consistently land high-level recruits looks for a more rigorous academic process in college.” An impressive stat for both teams considering the difficult course load those players take on in their collegiate careers.

This analyzation of data isn’t an end all of how teams are viewed as developing their players, it’s a look at how teams do with top talent and getting them to the next level. Most collegiate players want to play in the NFL, it’s the next logical step. With Notre Dame having a good amount of success with their top recruits, it’s a big time recruiting pitch for Kelly and his staff to perspective Irish stars.

Notre Dame: April’s Top Ten Stories on FIW

April has come and gone. Which Notre Dame stories were the biggest the last month? Count down the top ten right here.

And just like that April has come and come.  Amazing how fast (or slow) a month goes by when you’re stuck inside the confides of your home unless you’ve got an essential job you have to punch into still.

What all happened during the month of April at Fighting Irish Wire?  Well it was an interesting month that saw the retirement of a legendary coach at Notre Dame, six players get drafted in the NFL Draft and a 2021 football recruit give a verbal to Notre Dame.

If you missed anything this month or are just curious to look back, here are your ten most popular stories from Fighting Irish Wire during the month of April.

10.  Niele Ivey wasn’t even on the job a week when she saw two prime-time recruits commit to the Notre Dame Women’s basketball program.

9.  Deion Colzie, prized wide reciever in the 2021 recruiting class de-commited from Notre Dame in March.  Could he still re-commit though?

8.  Brian Kelly gave an early-April update on the latest on Notre Dame/Navy in Ireland, something we’re still left wondering about as we say goodbye to the month.

7.  Christian McCaffrey never played for Notre Dame but the Fighting Irish coaching staff continues to promote the highest paid running back in the NFL as one of their own.

6.  We found out more information on Will Shipley’s recruitment in the early parts of the month.  We’re still without any absolutes but Notre Dame clearly has a spot at the table with Clemson and North Carolina.

5.  We don’t have an answer yet on if Notre Dame and Navy will play in Ireland but a recent mandate by Ireland’s government has me scratching my head trying to figure out how this game gets played overseas.

4.  Notre Dame quarterback commit Tyler Buchner, the prized jewel so far of the 2021 cycle, received a fifth star by 247Sports. 

3.  Brian Kelly had strong words he offered up for Kirk Herbstreit’s prediction that college football wouldn’t be played in 2020. That was this month?  Seriously it feels like eight weeks ago at least.

2.  The latest news of Notre Dame being a finalist to land former Stanford running back Trevor Speights got a lot of attention the last few days.  Stay tuned as we could get an announcement there before much longer.

April’s Most Viewed Story:  Notre Dame made a scholarship offer to one of the nation’s top defensive recruits in the 2022 class, Denver Harris as they’re trying to hit one out of the park with the prized defensive back.

Thank you everyone for making April great and can’t wait for an even better May.  Hopefully we’ll all be able to get back to a little more normalcy this month compared to in the last but I hope you’re saying safe, sane and healthy.

 

ESPN Not High on Book’s NFL Projection

The senior Notre Dame signal caller, Ian Book, is not getting any early love from NFL draft projectors at ESPN.

It seems like a right of passage every year after the NFL Draft concludes, many pundits are already looking forward to the 2021 version and the focus like most years is on the quarterback position. It seems like a consensus that Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence and Ohio State’s Justin Fields are the cream of the crop, with the draft almost a year away from being held in Cleveland.

Since the 2000 draft, four Irish quarterbacks have been drafted, Jarious Jackson in ’00, Brady Quinn in ’07, Jimmy Clausen in ’10 and DeShone Kizer in ’17. None of them had much success in the NFL, but that has never stopped teams from selecting who they believe will be effective at the highest level.  All it takes is that one elite season, see Washington selecting Dwyane Haskins or this year’s number one pick LSU’s Joey Burrow, for the NFL brass to change their views on a player.

ESPN looked at the 8 most likely drafted quarterbacks for this upcoming class, Book ended up being featured in their other QB’s to watch. The world wide leader told us what we already knew, that “Book has above-average athleticism and good accuracy, particularly in short and intermediate throws, but his downfield work and height (6-foot) don’t project as well to the next level.”

To me, the height isn’t an issue at all. Looking around the NFL numerous teams have successful QB’s that aren’t over 6-feet tall, New Orlean’s Drew Brees, Seattle’s Russell Wilson and Arizona’s Kyler Murray are just a few that height isn’t seen as a detractor.

What is a bit concerning at the next level is accuracy. This trait is viewed as something that is difficult to teach, either you have it or you don’t. Book had it in 2018, completing 68% of his passes during his sophomore year, but took a step back last year dropping 8% to just 60% completion rate. Yes, there were more than 80 more attempts, but a drop off should not have been as large. This could potentially hurt the way NFL team’s view Book.

With a big senior season, Book can change those narratives and become a viable NFL quarterback option for teams in the coming draft. He will need to improve his deep ball accuracy and if he can do that, could have a potentially huge season for the Irish this year. Here’s hoping Book can get better in that area, which would help the Irish in the short term and his NFL career in the long term.