Notre Dame Football: Irish Pro Day
By Nick Combs
Jan 5, 2013; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; A general view as grounds crew members spray paint the Notre Dame Fighting Irish logo in the end zone during media day for the 2013 BCS Championship game at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Today is the day when players that played for the Irish get their last chance to prove themselves before the NFL draft. These days are very important since players are now comfortable in their element and are in the same facilities they have used for years. Pro days give the scouts an up close and personal view of these prospects and have a much smaller group of guys to grade.
The players that will be participating at Notre Dame’s Pro Day are:
Center- Braxton Cave
Long-Snapper- Jordan Cowart
Tight End- Tyler Eifert
Defensive End- Kapron Lewis-Moore
Safety- Zeke Motta
Running Back- Theo Riddick
Safety- Jamoris Slaughter
Linebacker- Manti Te’o
Running Back- Cierre Wood
Of course all eyes are on Manti Te’o and especially his 40 time, but there is some very good talent that is not often recognized. Tyler Eifert is steadily climbing up Mel Kiper’s Big Board, Kapron Lewis-Moore was a force last season keeping linemen off linebacker and filling holes in the defense, Jamoris Slaughter who has been bugged by injuries his whole career gets a shot to prove he deserves to play in the NFL. Cierre Wood and Theo Riddick split time last year with Theo getting more carries, but they both plan to prove they belong in the NFL. The hard hitting safety Zeke Motta lacks speed, but makes up for that in knowledge of the game, toughness, and instincts. Braxton Cave is a solid center that is projected for the late rounds, but could improve his draft stock during his Pro Day. Yes long snappers get paid a lot of money to do what they do, but a couple mistakes can make you end up released from a team. Cowart is a very good long snapper and will be end up somewhere in the NFL. As of now all of the guys above with the exception of Jamoris Slaughter should be selected in the NFL draft. Slaughter must prove himself on the field and be able to convince teams he is worth the risk considering his injury history.