Notre Dame Football: Top 5 Irish 2020 NFL Draft Prospects

Coming into the year, many expected a lot of Notre Dame players to enter the upcoming 2020 NFL draft. However, due to injuries and underperformance, the number of draft eligible Irish players expected to declare has greatly diminished.

Tight end Cole Kmet has already announced that he will be returning to Notre Dame last year, which removes one of the top tight end prospects from the draft. In addition, offensive linemen Liam Eichenberg, Robert Hainsey and Tommy Kramer are all expected to return for another season. Quarterback Ian Book is also expected to return as the starting signal caller in South Bend next year. With those names likely out of the discussion, here are the top five Notre Dame players expected to enter the 2020 NFL draft:

5. Alohi Gilman

There are some mixed reports as to the intentions of Gilman following the completion of the season. He has one year of eligibility remaining, following the NCAA denying him immediate eligibility at Notre Dame when he transferred from Navy in 2017.

Gilman is not an elite athlete, but he certainly checks all the other boxes of an effective NFL player. His tackling skills are above average and he isn’t afraid to make big hits on the ball carrier. His blitzing, run defense and coverage skills are also above average, making him a good fit at strong safety in the NFL.

He currently has 56 tackles, two forced fumbles and an interception on the year for the Irish. If he decides to enter the draft, he is projected to go as high as the fourth or fifth round. However, it wouldn’t be a major surprise to see Gilman decide to come back for a final year to play alongside the talented safety corps of Kyle Hamilton, Houston Griffith and the recent transfer from Ohio State University, Isaiah Pryor — giving Notre Dame one of the most talented safety groups in the nation.

4. Troy Pride Jr.

Troy Pride Jr. has had a bit of a down year this year for Notre Dame, despite being ranked as one of the top cornerbacks in the nation last season after giving up only one receiving touchdown on the year.

Pride Jr. possesses elite speed, as he is also a track star for Notre Dame. He has an unofficial 4.32 time in the 40 yard dash. That time would have qualified as a top three performance amongst cornerbacks in last year’s draft. The senior cornerback seems a likely candidate to impress at the NFL combine with his freakish athleticism vaulting him up the draft board, similar to what former Irish wide receiver Miles Boykin did prior to last year’s draft.

Pride Jr. has 34 tackles, five pass deflections and an interception on the year. Given his 2018 performance and his athleticism, many draft experts have Pride going as early as the third round of the 2020 NFL draft.

3. Julian Okwara

Once a candidate to go in the first round of the 2020 NFL draft, Okwara was plagued by a bit of a down season that saw him record only 18 tackles, four sacks, and two forced fumbles — numbers well below what many expected he would produce this year.

Making matters worse, Okwara would fracture the fibula in his left leg, ending his season prematurely. Okwara, who’s brother Romeo Okwara plays defensive end for the Detroit Lions, has more athleticism and a more storied collegiate career than his older sibling (who also starred at Notre Dame), and projects as a solid NFL caliber starting defensive end.

Prior to suffering the season-ending injury, Okwara was being projected as a second or third round pick. He should be completely healed in time to participate in the combine. Given his athleticism and pedigree, it isn’t difficult to imagine him still being selected in the second or third rounds, as suggested prior to the injury.

2. Chase Claypool

No Irish player has helped his draft stock the past three games as much as Chase Claypool. In those games, he has caught 20 passes for 331 yards and five touchdowns. In doing so, Claypool has exhibited NFL caliber receiving skills, making very difficult catches look routine.

Claypool was thought to possess better playmaking abilities than former teammates Miles Boykin and Equanimeous St. Brown. Boykin was drafted in the third round of the 2019 draft by the Baltimore Ravens and St. Brown was drafted in the sixth round of the 2018 draft by the Green Bay Packers.

Claypool has the ideal size to be an excellent red zone receiver on Sundays. In addition, he possesses decent speed and has above average hands. Having already amassed 49 receptions for 768 yards and nine receiving touchdowns, if Claypool continues his recent tear, he could find himself being selected in the second round of next year’s draft.

1. Khalid Kareem

Khalid Kareem came into this season ranked behind fellow defensive end Julian Okwara on most draft boards. However, he has put together a very consistent season where he has shown to be a disruptive force on the vaunted Irish defensive line.

Kareem currently has 34 tackles, four and a half sacks and two forced fumbles on the season. Both of the forced fumbles came in last week’s game against Navy on strip sacks.

Kareem is a high-motor type defensive end that seems to be constantly involved in the play. He projects as a high-end starting defensive lineman in the NFL. Draft projections have him going as high as late first round. It’s more likely that he goes early in the second round of the draft, but if he can end the final few games the way he played against Navy, he could certainly boost his draft status.