Notre Dame Football: NFC South loaded with Irish rookies

The Notre Dame Football program saw nine players selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, and four of them went to the NFC South.

During the three-day, 2021 NFL Draft, the Notre Dame Football program saw nine of its players selected. While the Irish were shut out of the first round for the second straight year, they did have Liam Eichenberg go at No. 42 on Day 2, starting a run on Notre Dame Football players.

Fellow offensive lineman Aaron Banks would get picked after Eichenberg, followed by Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah a few picks later. Then would be the selection of Tommy Tremble to the Carolina Panthers, which started a run that saw four members of the Irish go to all four members of the NFC South.

Notre Dame Football well-represented in the NFC South

With Tremble landing in Carolina, where he is to be a security blanket for Sam Darnold and Christian McCaffrey, the Irish then saw Robert Hainsey selected by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A versatile lineman, Hainsey is going to get a chance to help the reigning Super Bowl champs, and also gets to block for a legend in Tom Brady.

Then there is Ian Book, who I believe has a chance to get some starting experience as a rookie in 2021. Book is joining a New Orleans Saints team that has a big question mark at quarterback, and he possesses the same stature and playmaking ability as the former starter for Sean Payton, Drew Brees.

Finally, Ade Ogundeji landed in Atlanta, where he is going to help revamp their edge-rushing game. This team used to feast on the quarterback, and in Ogundeji, they get a raw, but talented pass rusher to add to the mix.

The best part of all four of these players going to different teams in the division is not only that they all have a chance to play right away, but at least one of them will be going to the playoffs. New Orleans and of course Tampa Bay made the playoffs last year, and both Atlanta and Carolina have done a nice job filling voids this offseason.