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Notre Dame Football: Chase Claypool on the brink of stardom

By Brad Weiss

DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 09: Chase Claypool #83 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish makes a one-handed catch against Leonard Johnson #33 of the Duke Blue Devils during the first quarter of their game at Wallace Wade Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
DURHAM, NORTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 09: Chase Claypool #83 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish makes a one-handed catch against Leonard Johnson #33 of the Duke Blue Devils during the first quarter of their game at Wallace Wade Stadium on November 09, 2019 in Durham, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images) /
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Chase Claypool took over as the WR1 for the Notre Dame football program in his final season in South Bend, and not only did he dominate for the Irish, he played his way into being a second-round 2020 NFL Draft selection. As a senior, Claypool hauled in 66 catches for over 1,000 yards, finding the end zone 13 times.

That 2019 team had an outstanding season, losing only to No. 3 Georgia and No. 19 Michigan on the road, before running the table and beating Iowa State in the Camping World Bowl. In that game, Claypool racked up nearly 150 yards and a touchdown, capping his career with a touchdown in five straight games, including a four-touchdown effort against Navy.

As he headed to the NFL, he was expected to contribute behind JuJu Smith-Schuster, but he did way more than just produce at a rookie level.

Notre Dame Football star Chase Claypool dominated as a rookie

Looking back at his first season in the NFL, Claypool not only showed he belonged at the NFL level but after a stellar rookie campaign, he is on the brink of being a superstar. As a rookie, Claypool racked up nearly 900 yards receiving for the 12-4 Pittsburgh Steelers, who took him with the No. 49 overall pick, and found the end zone nine times through the air, and twice on the ground.

Despite being a second-round pick, Claypool played like a first-rounder and earned PFWA All-Rookie Team honors. In the playoffs, Claypool continued to show why he is a future cornerstone for the Steelers, grabbing five passes for 59 yards and two scores in a loss to the Cleveland Browns.

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Claypool has everything you look for in a dominant NFL wide receiver, he is tall, fast, and can leap over defenders, while not being afraid to go over the middle. With Smith-Schuster possibly leaving Pittsburgh, Claypool will have a chance to team with Diontae Johnson to give the Steelers a talented, young duo atop the depth chart, and for Claypool, he could end up being one of the best wideouts in the AFC.

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