Slap the Sign
Fansided

Notre Dame Football: Former star named an NFL potential breakout player

By Brad Weiss

Nov 29, 2020; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (99) following the game against the Buffalo Bills at Bills Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2020; Orchard Park, New York, USA; Los Angeles Chargers defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (99) following the game against the Buffalo Bills at Bills Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Rich Barnes-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit

The 2020 NFL season is wrapping up with Super Bowl LV next Sunday, as the Kansas City Chiefs will try to make it two in a row when they play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. For Notre Dame football, they wrapped up their season weeks ago, but with players participating in the Senior Bowl, there is still a lot to keep an eye on.

The Chiefs have been the dominant team in the AFC for quite some time now, and all signs point to Patrick Mahomes possibly getting another ring. Staying in the AFC West, the Los Angeles Chargers got great play from a rookie quarterback this season, as Oregon’s Justin Herbert came in and showed he can be a franchise guy at the next level.

While Herbert had his breakout season in 2020, there is a different member of the Chargers who some feel will have their breakout season in 2021. That player just happens to be a former Notre Dame football star, and we will continue to monitor this as the 2021 NFL season begins next Fall.

Bleacher Report names former Notre Dame football star a breakout candidate

In a recent piece for Bleacher Report, Kristopher Knox laid out one player from each NFL team that has breakout potential in 2021. Plenty of budding stars were named to the list, including Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

We spoke about the play of Herbert, but for the Chargers, the breakout candidate in this piece was Jerry Tillery, who dominated during his time with the Fighting Irish. Tillery finished his senior season in South Bend with seven sacks, and improved every season, before being drafted with the No. 28 pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Notre Dame Football: Day 1 observations at the 2021 Senior Bowl. dark. Next

Tillery has played in all but one game since joining the Chargers, and last season, he started 11 of the team’s 16 games. He flashes signed of brilliance for the Chargers defense, forcing two fumbles, posting three sacks, and had 14 quarterback hits. With a new DC in Los Angeles for the 2021 season, Tillery could see those numbers skyrocket.

Home/Notre Dame Football