Former Notre Dame football star LB poised for 2024 NFL Draft amidst adversity

As former Notre Dame Football players and Fighting Irish fans prepare for the 2024 NFL Draft, which kicks off on Thursday night, one ex-Golden Domer doesn’t have the best draft profile. Marist Liufau isn’t expected to get picked before Saturday, but listening to him talk, it’s clear that he’s made peace with wherever he goes and won’t let anxiety eat him up.

Liufau's approach to the waiting game exudes a level of maturity that could be a game-changer in the NFL. His self-assurance is palpable, and if more pro execs took the time to listen, they might be swayed to pick the former Notre Dame Football star earlier than his projected spot.

“Right now I'm just finding peace in knowing that I only can control what I can control,” Liufau told Rob DeMello of KHON2Sports. “And that's my work right now and I can handle that. I know that I'll have an opportunity and be able to showcase my abilities to wherever I go. So if I handle that stuff like I said right now, then everything else will play out.”

Notre Dame football star in the right frame of mind heading into the 2024 NFL Draft

DeMello asked Liufau if he thought that having to deal with injuries during his Notre Dame football career, as well as the COVID pandemic, had helped him toughen up as a player and a person. The linebacker responded that those trials and tribulations made him stronger.

“All those things were things that just helped me grow as a person and help me to mature and all of those things help me to be a stronger man and a better football player because of it. Just learning to fight through those times of adversity.”

The former Notre Dame football linebacker credited his upbringing and his home state for playing a big part in his approach to dealing with the anxiety of the NFL Draft.

​​”A lot of it has to do with being raised here in Hawaii,” Liufau said. “Just the culture we have as people shaped me into the man I am now. And the values that I've grown just by living here and being born and raised here.”

While overshadowed a bit by guys like JD Bertrand at the linebacker spot, Marist Liufau was an integral part of the Notre Dame football defense during his time in South Bend. Last season he had 44 tackles, including 23 solo stops, 3 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.