Trio of ex-Notre Dame football stars get their shot at the NFL

With the conclusion of the 2024 NFL Draft, the spotlight now shifts to several former Notre Dame football players who are still in the running for a professional career. This includes some who didn’t even play for the Fighting Irish in the past season, underlining the unpredictability and excitement of the draft process.

For most former Notre Dame Fighting Irish players, the journey to the NFL began almost immediately after the draft. However, the path is not always straightforward. Some received offers that took a little longer to materialize, while others are facing the uncertainty of rookie minicamp invites with no guarantee of further progression.

Trio of ex-Notre Dame football stars get their shot at the NFL

Thomas Harper is the most recent former Golden Domer to land a free-agent contract. The defensive back will also get to see a few of his former teammates. Former Michigan head coach Jim Harbaugh seems to respect the Notre Dame football program.

Harper is joining the Los Angeles Chargers. The same team that drafted Joe Alt in the first round and Cam Hart in the fifth round. He’s also joining former secondary coach Chris O’Leary. It should be a fun reunion.

Pro Football Focus graded Harper as the team’s top tackler and third-best run defender. They also awarded him 17 run stops. In 246 pass coverage snaps, he surrendered 26 catches for 236 yards and 1 touchdown. 

Regarding Michael Vinson, the former Notre Dame football long-snapper was dependably solid in his final season in South Bend. 

Vinson played all 13 games and was named a captain for the team’s final contest at the Sun Bowl. Vinson was credited as forging clean operations in every punt, extra point, or field goal that he snapped for in 2023.

Vinson has a shot to stay close to home with an offer from the Indianapolis Colts to attend their roomie mini camp.

Bo Bauer is still trying to catch on in the NFL, but the defensive back, who last played with Notre Dame football in 2022, was named a team captain prior to the start of the season. Bauer ended up playing in five games and making one start. 

Bauer finished that season with nine tackles. He did also have a blocked punt. Now he’ll try to make it with the Washington Commanders and continue the Notre Dame football tradition of great special teams.