Notre Dame football: Could five Irish go in the first round in 2023?
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football team has never had more than four players selected in the first round, something that could change next April.
During the 2022 NFL Draft, the Notre Dame football team saw only two of their players selected across the three-day event. For a program as illustrious as the Irish program is, that is a very low number, but a lot of that came from the fact that many of the key draft prospects from last year’s team decided to return to South Bend.
Jarrett Patterson could have easily been a Day 2 pick, and Isaiah Foskey could have gotten up to the first round with a solid draft season. As it stands, only Kyle Hamilton, who went in the first round, and Kyren Williams, who went on Day 3, were picked, a very low number of players for the Notre Dame football program.
In 2023, that number will be surpassed in a hurry, as the Irish have multiple first-round prospects on their current roster. In fact, with so many high-level players on the 2022 squad, the Irish could set the program record for most first-round picks in a single draft class.
Notre Dame football a record-setting draft class in 2023?
In the history of the Notre Dame football program, the record for most first-round picks in a single draft is four. The 2022 Notre Dame football team has five players who could hear their name called in the first round next April, but how likely is that to happen.
We know the players who will be a given to go in the first round, as Brandon Joseph, Isaiah Foskey, and Michael Mayer are first-round picks in many mock drafts already circling. However, Jarrett Patterson could be the No. 1 center on the board next April, making him a legitimate first-round prospect, and with cornerback being such a premium position at the next level, could Cam Hart sneak in as well?
Of course, priority No. 1 is getting the Irish to the College Football Playoff, but it is never too early to look ahead to the NFL Draft. With the recruiting classes that Marcus Freeman and his staff are building, having multiple first-round picks should become the norm in South Bend in the near future.