This is the second year we’ve done this pro scouting annual for the Irish football team. As a reminder, here’s a refresher on some of the guidelines to who is included and who is not:
Older players who have not made the necessary impact in terms of a possible NFL career are not included.
We are working under the constraints of the NFL value system. For example, last year CBS Sports had tight end Michael Mayer going 10th overall in their 2023 mock draft. We mentioned how that was way too high given the value of that position and Mayer ended up being picked 25 spots lower than CBS Sports guessed.
Of course, for many young players and freshmen we are guessing somewhat wildly and hopefully.
FYI, your typical NFL Draft has around 260 picks, which fluctuates depending on how many compensatory selections there may be in any given year.
ELG: Eligibility remaining, including 2023.
NOW: Selection spot if the 2024 NFL Draft was held today.
FUTURE: Their ceiling as a NFL pick based on available evidence.
(Parentheses indicates change from last year if applicable).
Notre Dame Offense Scouting Annual 2023
| NAME | POS | ELG | NOW | FUTURE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joe Alt | LT | 2 | 6 (+70) | 3 (+4) |
| Blake Fisher | RT | 3 | 59 (+5) | 27 (-23) |
| Aamil Wagner | RT | 4 | UDFA | 86 (-29) |
| Sam Hartman | QB | 1 | 198 | 98 |
| Jayden Thomas | WR | 3 | UDFA | 105 |
| Audric Estime | RB | 2 | 148 | 112 |
| Tobias Merriweather | WR | 3 | UDFA | 139 (-46) |
| Billy Schrauth | OG | 4 | UDFA | 147 (-8) |
| Mitchell Evans | TE | 2 | 208 | 160 (+12) |
| Jadarian Price | RB | 4 | UDFA | 186 (-29) |
| Jaden Greathouse | WR | 4 | UDFA | 191 |
| Eli Raridon | TE | 4 | UDFA | 207 (-93) |
| Charles Jagusah | OT | 4 | UDFA | 213 |
| Deion Colzie | WR | 2 | UDFA | 219 |
| Steve Angeli | QB | 4 | UDFA | 228 (-40) |
| Holden Staes | TE | 3 | UDFA | 234 |
| Rico Flores | WR | 4 | UDFA | 238 |
| Kenny Minchey | QB | 4 | UDFA | 246 |
| Jeremiyah Love | WR | 4 | UDFA | 255 |
Players who made the list last year, and who are still on the roster, but who have been removed for 2023 include running back Chris Tyree, offensive lineman Zeke Correll, offensive lineman Andrew Kristofic, and offensive lineman Rocco Spindler. Tyree either needs to be a top 20 draftable running back or top 30 draftable wide receiver and I don’t see that anymore.
Running back Gi’Bran Payne did not make the list heading into his second season.
True freshmen not to make the list include wide receiver Braylon James (he’s a tough exclusion to be fair), wide receiver Kaleb Smith, tight end Cooper Flanagan, offensive lineman Joe Otting, offensive lineman Sam Pendleton, offensive lineman Chris Terek, and offensive lineman Sullivan Absher.
Players no longer on the roster who made the list last year (scouting numbers in parentheses):
Michael Mayer (39-24): Ultimately picked 35th overall by the Raiders.
Jarrett Patterson (73-43): A good reminder that being good in college isn’t necessarily a ticket to a high draft pick as Patterson goes 201st overall to the Texans.
Tyler Buchner (UFDA-84): Transferred to Alabama and this 84th overall feels awfully high these days but if it’s going to happen perhaps a breakout season for the Tide is the place.
Lorenzo Styles (228-121): Transferred to Ohio State to play corner or wide receiver. Eh, who knows!
Logan Diggs (UDFA, 209): Transferred to LSU, home is where the heart is so they say.
Braden Lenzy (UDFA, 235): Decided not to come back for a 6th season.
Avery Davis (UDFA, 253): Did not get drafted.
Scouting Highlights:
This time last year Joe Alt had a bright future but now he has a super bright future.
In contrast, Blake Fisher had a good 2022 season but his stock isn’t quite as white hot as Alt right now. I’d also point out the extra year for Fisher, as well. Whether he uses that or not, we’ll see.
There’s a pretty large drop off after Alt and Fisher. I don’t think many have Aamil Wagner on their radar but he fits the profile as a future starter and decent draft pick. But we dropped him a bit as he’s still under-sized even though he looked decent in the Blue-Gold Game.
Would you predict Sam Hartman gets drafted in 2024? Also, notice he’s the only one on this list who will be out of eligibility after 2023.
Jayden Thomas didn’t even make the list last year and look at him now.
As the President of the Jaden Greathouse Fan Club I was tempted to place his ceiling higher.
A second knee injury in as many years drops Eli Raridon’s scouting ceiling lower for 2023.
If these were stocks I’d definitely be buying Blake Fisher to improve from a late second round. Hopefully he comes back in 2024, but with his body type and a great season this year I think he could sneak into the first round pretty quickly given the importance of tackle and his immense physical skills.
Similarly, 14 QB’s got drafted so I will predict Hartman will be as well. If Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Sean Clifford can both get picked in Round 5, I don’t see why Hartman can’t.
Or 4th round draft pick Stetson Bennett!
Since Tom Brady is out of football, everyone is trying to find the next low round QB gem?
What kind of season would Hartman need to have to move up 100 spots in the draft? I’m not sure what he could do this year that could boost his draft stock that much, but I would sure be happy with that!
This type of season:
Appropriate of nothing, I saw on IG last week a video of Freeman at a Top Golf during his travels across the country and his swing was terrible. Not like Charles Barkley bad and not a knock on him, but after Kelly it’s nice to see that a football coach clearly hasn’t played enough golf to have a good swing for once. Made me feel good about Freeman.
None of us can be perfect.
We all have our blind spots.
For a golfer, he definitely looks like a linebacker. Not that my swing is any better.
The only player with UFDA as his NOW grade. Fans from Fargo approve.
Damn, you passed the dyslexia test!
Cole Kmet finished up his degree this year. Reflecting on Irish players who were drafted, signing a four year rookie contract and who are going to be Free Agents in 2024 demonstrates how important that Notre Dame degree is.
Of the eighteen former Irish who are FAs next year, only two are listed as starters for their teams (Alohi Gilman and Chase Claypool). Drue Tranquill, a starter on the Chargers last year, was signed by KC on a one year contract for his fifth year in the league. One of the Chiefs LB starters is a Free Agent next year. So Drue may be in for longer contract next year. Down the road his career may turn to utilizing his mechanical engineering degree.
Seven of those eighteen went undrafted and effectively signed a one year contract since little money, if any, is guaranteed beyond the first year.
Claypool has been a disappointment since the Bears traded for him. He needs to hold on to his starter positions and have productive years to have any chance at signing a multi-year contract.
Both Okwaras are FAs next year (Detroit will probably exercise a Void year on Romeo). Both have slid back in Detroit’s depth chart, replaced by recent draftees and Free Agents.
TIL Gilman is a starter!?
Yeah, at 5-10 and 200 lbs, who would have guessed. He isn’t Harrison Smith, but is very serviceable.
Yes, Nasir Adderley retired at 25 and had injuries during his career. The Chargers didn’t draft any Ss perhaps because other positions were more of a priority and they were comfortable going with Gilman. Only two safeties in this year’s draft were picked before the fifth round.
Alohi Gilman tabbed as Chargers’ ‘best-kept secret’
They could have picked Brandon Joseph in this seventh but went with Max Duggan.
Lorenzo Styles maybe sneakily has day 2 potential as a cornerback? He’ll have to sit out this year but all the recruitniks were saying a couple years ago he might be a borderline 5-star as a corner but he just didn’t want to play it.
Wait why will he have to sit out?
Learning scheme? depth in front of him?