Four Notre Dame Players In PFF Top 100 After The Senior Bowl

Four former Irish players remain in the PFF Top 100 for the 2020 NFL Draft, but one player saw his stock rise

Bryan Driskell | Jan 31, 2020

Following the Reese's Senior Bowl, Pro Football Focus re-ranked and released its Top 100 players for the 2020 NFL Draft, which takes place in April.

Four former Notre Dame standouts found themselves ranked in the list. Three remained close to their previous ranking, but one former standout, cornerback Troy Pride Jr., saw a big jump after his outstanding Senior Bowl performance.

Pride was ranked 90th heading into the Senior Bowl but jumped up to No. 73 in the latest ranking. Pride's stock should rise even further if he performs well in February's NFL Scouting Combine.

The highest ranked former Notre Dame player is defensive end Julian Okwara, who remains at No. 22.

"Okwara has elite movement skills and moves more like a wide receiver than a defensive end on the field. His consistency is still lacking, but there's no denying his high-end potential. He finished with a pass-rushing grade of over 90.0 on the season."

Another former Irish end - Khalid Kareem - is next on the list at No. 61, which is down just one spot from the previous ranking. Kareem was scheduled to play in the Senior Bowl but he's still recovering from injuries he played through during the 2019 season.

Tight end Cole Kmet rounds out the list, checking in at No. 96, which is up two spots from the previous ranking.

If all four players are drafted where they are ranked by Pro Football Focus they would all get picked in the first three rounds. Okwara would be in round one, Kareem would be in round two and both Pride and Kmet would be in round three.

Should that happen it would be the first time since the 2016 Draft that Notre Dame had at least four players taken in the first three rounds.

Not including wide receiver Chase Claypool was the one surprise for me. I have a hard time believing there are 100 better players in the draft than the former Irish wideout.

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Published Jan 31, 2020

BRYAN DRISKELL

Bryan Driskell is the publisher of Irish Breakdown and has been covering Notre Dame football for over a decade. A former college football player and coach, Bryan and Irish Breakdown bring a level of expertise and analysis that is unmatched. From providing in depth looks at the Fighting Irish, breaking news stories and honest recruiting analysis, Irish Breakdown has everything Notre Dame football fans want and need. Bryan was previous a football analyst for Blue & Gold Illustrated before launching Irish Breakdown. He coached college football at Duquesne University, Muhlenberg College, Christopher Newport University, Wittenberg University and Defiance College. During his coaching career he was a pass game coordinator, recruiting coordinator, quarterbacks coach, running backs coach and wide receivers coach. Bryan earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Salisbury University, where he played quarterback for the Sea Gulls. You can email Bryan at bryan@irishbreakdown.com. Become a premium Irish Breakdown member, which grants you access to all of our premium content and our premium message board! Click on the link below for more. BECOME A MEMBER Be sure to stay locked into Irish Breakdown all the time! Follow Bryan on Twitter: @CoachD178Like and follow Irish Breakdown on FacebookSubscribe to the Irish Breakdown YouTube channelSubscribe to the Irish Breakdown podcast on iTunes Sign up for the FREE Irish Breakdown daily newsletter