The Senior Bowl is one of the longest-running traditions regarding the NFL draft process. Starting in 1950, the game was the first chance for NFL teams to get a look at the draft prospects in a non-college football event. In the past, it’s helped many players elevate their draft stock and get picked higher than expected when the season ended. Many Notre Dame players have competed in this event in the past.
This year is no different, as several Fighting Irish alums are participating in this year’s event. Coming off a National Championship appearance, scouts and fans are very interested to see how these draft prospects do. Will they have performances to improve their draft stock? Or will the quick turnaround from their playoff run cause burnout? Here is a list of Notre Dame participants ranked by who has the most to prove.
Riley Leonard, Quarterback
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Unsurprisingly, the Notre Dame signal caller finds himself at the top of this list. Now, is this because Riley Leonard is a highly rated prospect? No. As of right now, Leonard is seen as a Day 3 pick, according to several sites. Someone who is going to be buried on the depth chart and will only see the field in emergencies. Not someone a team is going to invest a high-value pick in.
However, what puts Leonard at the top of this list is the rest of the quarterback class. This is the weakest QB class we’ve seen since the 2022 class. Only one quarterback was taken in the first round. This year only two quarterbacks have first-round grades. After that, there’s a major drop-off. A strong performance from Leonard in this game can shoot him up draft boards.
Leonard has been praised for his athletic ability as well as his personality and leadership. He’s seen as someone who will do whatever it takes to win. The perfect attitude you want from the leader of your franchise. The one thing he needs to prove is his ability to throw the football. If he puts on a strong passing performance, he could be seen as a project and making him more likely to go in the higher rounds.
Jack Kiser, Linebacker
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Jack Kiser has been a staple of the Irish roster for years. He’s appeared in 70 total games for Notre Dame, more than any other player in program history. He had been one of the most consistent players on defense over his four seasons as a contributor. However, he saved his best season for his final one in South Bend. In his 16 games, he leads the team in tackles with 90 as well as in solo tackles with 55.
However, despite strong numbers on paper, Kiser doesn’t have much hype in the draft process. He’s seen as an early day-three pick. Someone who can be a good depth piece and make impact plays. But not someone who can be a consistent starter at the NFL level. This is due to concerns surrounding his athletic ability, as well as his being an older prospect.
But if Kiser can show off the play he showed at Notre Dame, he’ll shoot up draft boards. If he can be consistent in stopping the run, plus get a couple of pressures and a hit on the quarterback, people will look over his athletic concerns. It’s not gonna make him a first-round pick, but he might find himself being taken in the third round.
RJ Oben, EDGE Rusher
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RJ Oben was at one time beloved by NFL scouts. Back when he was at Duke, it seemed like he had the making of a talented NFL player. However, a lackluster performance in his final season as a Blue Devil hurt Oben’s draft stock. The hope was a strong season as a member of the Irish might save him. That wasn’t the case as Oben only had 19 tackles, with ten solo. Only two of those tackles went for a loss.
With these underwhelming numbers, Oben is seen as a late-day-three pick. Some sites have him going as early as the fifth round, but others see him going as late as the seventh round. These low numbers have caused many scouts to say he lacks explosiveness. He also lacks the speed that an NFL edge rusher needs to have to be a solid player.
A strong performance can get back some of the hype he’s lost over the past two seasons. If he’s able to get a couple of tackles for loss and win battles against offensive linemen, it could make scouts fall in love with him. It might make people feel that the last two seasons were more of a fluke. He might be able to develop into a decent NFL player if put into the right environment.
Xavier Watts, Saftey
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It’s not often we see Xavier Watts at the bottom of a list involving Notre Dame football players. Watts was arguably the most important player on the Irish roster. He led the team in interceptions with six this season. He also was second in pass deflections as well as tackles. Plus, he showed great leadership ability in his role as captain this season. It’s safe to say that the Irish wouldn’t have made as deep of a run as they did without him.
Due to his strong play this past season, as well as what he’s done in the past, Watts is a highly regarded prospect. He’s considered a top-five safety in this class and is projected to go sometime in the second round. Because of this, there is nothing Watts can do to propel himself on draft boards. Maybe he can have a strong performance to put him into the late first round but nothing he can do to elevate him to one of the best players in this class.
The only thing to look out for is if he struggles. If he puts on a weak performance or has a bad play that sticks out in everyone’s minds, his stock will fall. He’s not gonna plummet and become a day-three pick. But, he might fall a few spots.
Brian Germinaro is a sportswriter for Belly Up Sports. Follow him on Twitter/X for more sports coverage and Belly Up Sports for even more college football content. Feature image credit: Don Juan Moore.