Three former Notre Dame football players could go in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, with a few more Domers also being picked in later rounds. For the sake of this post, we’re going to spotlight three: Louis Nix III, Zack Martin and Stephon Tuitt.
I enlisted the help of a couple Notre Dame football experts and got them on the phone; Nick Shepkowski of WSCR 670 The Score Chicago, and Craig Williams, formerly of 95.7 The Fan, South Bend.
Here’s where I have the three Notre Dame players going in my NFL mock draft. (Here’s the full mock draft)
19. Miami Zack Martin, OT/G, Notre Dame
Martin had a great Senior Bowl and will probably end up going to either Miami or Arizona, somewhere in the first round. I’m guessing Miami as they need big bodies to help protect QB Ryan Tannehill. And of course appease his wife, model Lauren Tannehill. The big three tackle prospects: Greg Robinson of Auburn, Jake Matthews of Texas A&M and Taylor Lewan of Michigan will all be long gone by the time the Dolphins are on the clock.
“Zack Martin to me would be the guy because you could play him at left tackle, at right tackler, you can could put him at guard, he started 50 plus games, he’s durable,” ESPN NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. said on media conference call a couple days ago.
Here’s more in depth on why Miami taking Zack Martin makes sense
Here’s a summary of what ND players should get drafted, signed as free agents
Shepkowski on Martin: “I think Matt Miller from Bleacher report put it best, Zack Martin has the potential to be a starter at LT, a Pro Bowler at RT, but if he moves to guard, with his quickness, and ability to pull, he has the potential to be a consistent all pro, and have a very long, very great career.”
To hear the full Williams interview, where he talks Chicago Bulls, Chicago Bears and Notre Dame football listen below:
24. Cincinnati Bengals, Stephon Tuitt, DL Notre Dame
He got off to a rough start this year, because he wasn’t healthy. Then he dominated the USC game. Stephon Tuitt pretty much won the USC game for Notre Dame. ESPN NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. sees Tuitt has a great prospect and said that he didn’t like the targeting rule that kept Stephon Tuitt out of the Pitt game, and he mentioned that the absence of Stephon Tuitt pretty much cost Notre Dame the Pitt game. Kiper believes Tuitt could step in and start right away.
Here’s a summary of what ND players should get drafted, signed as free agents
Go here for more on Tuitt
“If we’re talking a year, ago I would have said Tuitt for sure would have been a top 15 pick, he had the potential to be an elite pass rusher in this league,” said Shepkowski.
“But inconsistency is what I saw from him, he never quite took that step, I’m not as high on him.”
Said Williams of Tuitt: “There are teams that are going to pass on him and they’re going to be regretting it, this guy’s a freak of nature. ”
25. San Diego, Louis Nix III, Notre Dame
I could see the Chargers going shopping for some Irish Chocolate in round one. They have a front-seven that needs some revamping and Nix will be a first rounder, despite missing some time at the end of the season and some previous weight issues. He showed that he’s healthy now. And at his Pro Day he checked in 331 pounds and looked pretty slender; by his standards.
You got to wonder about heart with him though. He really took the end of the season off, and how much of that was about lack of effort. He was healthy for the combine after all.
For more on Louis Nix III
“There’s been reports the Bears are looking at Louis Nix,” said Williams. “I don’t want the Bears taking Louis Nix. He mailed in the second half of the season.”
When people want the zero technique, they want the big refrigerator in the 3-4 defense, look at Vince Wilfork, that’s what he has the potential to be,” said Shepkowski of Nix.
“Whoever draft Nix, that’s what they’re going to try to get out of him.”
For the Full Shepkowski interview, on the Chicago Bears and Notre Dame football, listen below:
Here’s our full seven round mock draft, with all the Notre Dame football picks.
1. MIAMI: Zack Martin (OL Notre Dame)
1. SAN DIEGO: Louis Nix (DT Notre Dame)
2. WASHINGTON: Stephon Tuitt (DE Notre Dame)
3. MIAMI: Troy Niklas (TE Notre Dame)
5. WASHINGTON: Chris Watts (OL Notre Dame)
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Paul M. Banks owns The Sports Bank.net, an affiliate of Fox Sports. A former NBC Chicago and Washington Times writer, he’s also been featured on the History Channel. President Obama follows him on Twitter (@paulmbanks)