Cole Kmet Meets with the Media, Proclaims He’s Best TE in Draft

Notre Dame TE Cole Kmet met with the media, thinks he’s best TE in NFL Draft

Notre Dame TE Cole Kmet met with the media today and talked about a variety of topics including his decision to leave South Bend, why he’s the best tight end in the draft, why he chose to play football instead of baseball and plenty more.

Kmet will hit the field on Thursday, the first day of football drills for the skill position players. The only thing Kmet won’t participate in is the bench press. Most likely he will do that during the Irish’s Pro Day next month. The talented TE said this his goal was to run under a 4.69 40-yard dash, which was his previous best.

Kmet has already met with Washington and has 12 meetings with other team’s on schedule for tomorrow. It is quite an exciting time for the former Irish star and it will continue throughout the next few months leading up to the NFL Draft on April 23rd.

Notre Dame’s CB Pride Predicted to Put Up Impressive NFL Combine Numbers

Notre Dame Troy Pride predicted to wow NFL scouts at Combine this week.

Notre Dame Troy Pride Predicted to Put Up Impressive NFL Combine Numbers

The underwear Olympics or better known as the NFL Combine is underway with players arriving and getting measured before hitting the field on Thursday for the beginning of the workouts. The NFL is always looking for the next group of elite athletes and yesterday Charles Power of 247Sports predicted 10 players the NFL will fall in love with over the next week.

Power named an Irish player, although not one you would have thought, CB Troy Pride, as a player with the potential of wow many NFL scouts. Defensive backs are coveted by their size and speed, and it is anticipated that Pride will put up impressive 40 yard-dash times. Power noted that “Pride was a state champion in the 100 and 200 meters in high school and ran track for the Irish, hitting the 10.4’s in the 100 meters.” Pride has made it know that he wants to post the faster 40 time ever for an Irish player at the combine, stating his goal is to run a 4.2, which is blazing fast.

Pride made some waves at the Senior Bowl and will look to continue to impress the NFL scouts. Pride unofficially stands at 5’11” and weights 194-pounds, which is great size for a corner and with the elite speed that he possesses, Pride should be a prospect that sees his draft stock rise over the next few days.

Pro Football Focus Mock Draft Puts One Notre Dame Player in Top 20

What is important to remember is how PFF chooses to do their mock drafts as its who the experts would pick there, not who they think teams are going to take.  So I guess “mock” is used even more liberally here.

Will a Notre Dame player go in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft?  Time will tell but if someone does it appears the best bets are either tight end Cole Kmet or edge rusher Julian Okwara.

Pro Football Focus released their latest mock draft on Monday and in it was a Notre Dame player not just in the first round, but in the top 20.

Austin Gayle of PFF had Julian Okwara going to the Las Vegas Raiders at 19 overall with the folllowing reasoning:

There’s currently not enough hype surrounding Okwara. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound Notre Dame product is a freakish athlete with absurd bend and flexibility that defensive line coaches salivate over at the next level. His technique will require improvement at the next level, but he still earned a 90.4 PFF pass-rushing grade before his 2019 season was cut short due to injury. His pass-rushing grade improved every year of his career with the Fighting Irish.

What is important to remember is how PFF chooses to do their mock drafts as its who the experts would pick there, not who they think teams are going to take.  So I guess “mock” is used even more liberally here.

What is worth noting however is how sure they seem about Okwara even with him breaking his fibula against Duke and not playing in Notre Dame’s final four games of the 2019 season.

NFL Combine: Notre Dame’s Cole Kmet Measures out Massively

Not a surprise at all but Kmet measured out as a massive human being compared to his tight end peers at the start of the combine.

Notre Dame and St. Viator High School (Arlington Heights, Illinois) product Cole Kmet met the NFL world officially Monday morning at the NFL Combine, weighing in and getting sized up in front of the masses.

Kmet is seen by most as the best tight end in the draft and at worst, some rank him second.  Not a surprise at all but Kmet measured out as a massive human being compared to his tight end peers at the start of the combine.

Cole Kmet’s Measureables:
Height – 6-5 2/8″
Weight – 262 pounds
Hands – 10 4/8″
Arms – 33″
Wingspan – 79″

As we know by watching him Kmet is clearly a large piece of furniture to have to move.  Here’s how he stacks up, or past, compared to two of the other highest regarded tight ends in the 2020 NFL Draft:

Hunter Bryant of Washington:
Height – 6-2 2/8″
Weight – 248 pounds
Hands – 10″ right hand, 10 3/8″ left hand
Arms – 32″
Wingspan – 76 4/8″

Brycen Hopkins of Purdue:
Height – 6-3 7/8″
Weight – 245 pounds
Hands – 10 1/8″
Arms – 32 1/8″
Wingspan – 76″

As you can see he’s bigger than his biggest competition to be the first overall tight end taken in this draft. The question this week isn’t so much is he the best tight end prospect in this draft but it’s more about if Kmet’s workouts mirror that and make him that much better of a prospect than any other at the position.

A great work out can make his value appear that much better and increase his chances as a the first rounder. A workout more on the level with Hopkins, Bryant or others and be may still be seen as the top tight end prospect but the need to take him considerably ahead of the others wouldn’t be there.

Here’s to hoping Kmet rips up the workouts this weekend.

Chase Claypool An NFL Combine Measurement Monster

Claypool would present an ultimate weapon for teams at the tight end position

Well, the meat market that is the NFL Draft Combine is under way and a Notre Dame wide receiver is already making waves just by stepping on the scales and having his measurements taken.

None of the tight end talk is truly news. But it’s been more of a curiosity than something that is backed up by actual data. Now we have that.

In today’s NFL, Claypool would present an ultimate weapon for teams at the tight end position. His willingness to block and aggressiveness would allow him to play in-line if needed while his experience at wide receiver would allow him to be flexed out whenever the team that drafts him sees fit.

Now let’s see how he runs!

Notre Dame’s Okwara named Top 5 DE Prior to NFL Combine

Notre Dame’s DE Okwara named Top 5 DE prior to NFL Combine.

The NFL’s job fair aka Draft Combine is set to begin on Thursday and Rivals has ranked where they view players prior to the players getting a chance to show off their athletic prowess. Last week Mike Farrell and Adam Gorney ranked the best defensive ends before they work out in front of NFL brass.

Notre Dame’s Julian Okwara was named among the Top 5, 4th overall, among his peers at the position. They noted that the fourth-year player was on the field for just 35 games, but the production was there. Okwara was a force against opposing offensive lines, ranking up 15.5 sacks and 24 tackles for loss.

Although Okwara needed work when he first arrived at South Bend, Farrell saw a player that “developed into one of the better pass rushers in the country and his technique is flawless. He’s also very good against the run in addition to his pass rushing stills.”

Okwara will show the NFL scouts his skills when the defensive line group works out on Saturday and you can see that on the NFL Network. Okwara’s name has popped up on a few 1st round mock drafts and with a good showing this weekend, him name could be popping up on more in the future.

Notre Dame TE Kmet Compared to Future Hall of Famer

Notre Dame TE Kmet ranked as best prospect at his position, compared to future Hall of Famer.

The NFL Combine is quick approaching, it beings this Sunday and many outlets will be looking forward to seeing which prospects stand out. Rivals recently has been ranking the best players at their positions and it shouldn’t come as a surprise that Notre Dame TE Cole Kmet is ranked among the best in the group.

Adam Gorney and Mike Farrell ranked Kmet as the best prospect at his position, while Farrell gave an explanation as to why they believe the former Irish star is ranked over his draft competition. Farrell initially saw Kmet as a “prospect who could stretch the field and was also very physical. I love the way his game translates to the NFL. He’s going to be the next Rob Gronkowski.”

That is certainly high praise for Kmet although he wasn’t as productive in college as Gronk was, but a comparison to the future Hall of Famer really puts perspective on the kind of player Kmet can be at the next level.

Kmet should have his name called early in the NFL Draft which begins on April 23rd and runs through the 25th. If Kmet impresses during the combine, he has a chance to hear his name being called very early in the draft, potentially in the first round. It will be fun watching Kmet perform at the next level and we will all be watching to see if he can become the next Gronkowksi.

Two Notre Dame Players Selected in NFL Mock Drafts

Multiple mock drafts were released yesterday and saw former Irish stars projected to be drafted inside the first two days.

There were multiple NFL mock drafts that were released yesterday and to no one’s surprise two former Irish players will have their names selected early. We have seen other mock drafts with TE Cole Kmet and DE Julian Okwara in the first round but unfortunately for them, if these experts are correct, it will not be until the second round that they will see then don the hats of their next teams.

Starting off with Yahoo Sports Eric Edholm’s mock draft where he projects Kmet being selected 43rd overall by the Chicago Bears. Kmet would be the first tight end off the board and Edholm has some high praise for the former Irish star saying  he “has fascinating upside and could be a very good red-zone target. His blocking needs refinement for sure, but the potential is there.” If Kmet is selected by the Bears, you could very well see him on the field early as there is a huge need there.

Just 5 picks later Edholm has DE Julian Okwara going 48th overall to the New York Jets. The Jets are in need of pass rushers, as they got a total of just 3 sacks out of their defensive end unit last year. If Okwara was to go to the Jets, he also would likely see early playing time.

Moving on to Jon Ledyard of the Pewter Report’s mock draft, once again no Irish in the first round and once again Kmet being the first Notre Dame player selected at 49th overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Ledyard has Dayton’s Adam Troutman and Florida Atlantic’s Harrison Bryant as TE’s going off the board prior to Kmet and it seems he isn’t very high on Kmet explaining that “I don’t find Kmet’s game worth a Round 2 selection, his pedigree, size and versatile usage at Notre Dame will likely appeal to Kevin Colbert.”

Ledyard also had Okwara being selected in the second round, going to Seattle at the 59th overall pick. If selected by the Seahawks, Okwara wouldn’t likely see the field much, as the have Rasheem Green and Jadaveon Clowney as their starters with Ziggy Ansah at the position as well. Ledyard digs into the pick saying “Okwara sure looks and moves the part, and we know Seattle doesn’t care much about college production, so this is a match made in heaven.” Okwara would see some playing time, but in a back-up role which might suit him well.

Another mock draft was released yesterday as well, CBS Sports Ryan Wilson, this one not as deep and missing both Kmet and Okwara, just going over the first rounds picks. It seems more and more likely that these two former Irish stars will see their names called during the second day of the draft.

Nine Irish Invited to NFL Scouting Combine

Almost a handful of former Irish stars invited to NFL Combine.

For nine former Irish stars their first big interview will be coming up at the end of the month as the NFL announced which prospects have been invited to the NFL combine. It will be held in Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium, from Sunday, February 23rd though Monday, March 2nd.

Many of the prospects who attend the combine typically get drafted after they go through the rigors of the NFL scheduled workouts. It begins for the Quarterbacks, Tight Ends and Wide Receivers with their on-field workouts on Thursday the 27th, which means you can watch former Irish WR’s Chase Claypool, Chris Finke and TE Cole Kmet perform.

On Friday the 28th the Offensive lineman, Running Backs and Special Teamer’s will hit the field which puts the spotlight on RB Tony Jones Jr as he is the only former Golden Domer who will be tested. Saturday the 29th turns to the Defensive front 7, Lineman and Linebackers, meaning DL’s Julian Okwara and Khalid Kareem will be out in front of the NFL scouts.

It wraps up on Sunday March 1st as the Defensive Backs will be put on an island once again, and a trio of former Irish will be working out. Safeties Jalen Elliott and Alohi Gilman along with Corner back Tony Pride Jr. will have NFL team’s eyes as they will get their chance to show off their athletic ability.

It bodes very well that multiple Irish will head down I-65 to Indy and perform in front of NFL scouts. One very big recruiting pitch can be that Brian Kelly and his staff can get their players to the next level, which getting their invite to the Scouting Combine is that first step. You can watch the former Irish stars show their skills during those dates on the NFL Network.

NFL Network Mock Draft Lists No Notre Damers

f Notre Dame is to go without a first round selection it would be the first time since the 2017 draft that were to occur.

Daniel Jeremiah is a former starting quarterback at Appalachian State and spent time working in the front offices of the Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore since he graduated in 2000.

Jeremiah is now an analyst at NFL Network and spends a ton of time offering his thoughts on draft prospects once we transition from the collegiate season to the off-season.

Jeremiah released his latest mock draft last week and perhaps to the surprise of some, no Notre Dame players were listed.

A few notable things from this draft:

-Joe Burrow goes first.  That part isn’t a shock but he’s the first of five players form LSU that Jeremiah projects to go on opening night.  The Tigers are tied with Alabama for the most first round picks in this mock at five.

-Clemson checks in with three projected first round picks, two of which come from the defensive side of the ball and one that comes from the offense.

-Ohio State has a somewhat surprising total of just two first round picks here but it doesn’t feel that light by Ohio State standards when you realize the projected second and third picks are both Buckeyes.

-No tight ends go in round one, noteworthy obviously when discussing Cole Kmet who several have as a likely first rounder.

-Four Notre Dame opponents from the 2019 season are projected to go in the first round by Jeremiah.  Those include offensive tackle Mekhi Becton of Louisville (4 – Giants), offensive tackle Andrew Thomas (10 – Browns) and running back De’Andre Swift (18 – Dolphins) of Georgia and offensive tackle Austin Jackson of USC (26 – Dolphins).  

If Notre Dame is to go without a first round selection it would be the first time since the 2017 draft that were to occur.