The Irish have some of the most famous alum of all time and this season’s draft will hear plenty of Notre Dame football players all the same. With the 2025 NFL Draft upon us, find everything you need to know for the Fighting Irish this season, including scouting reports, their full list of prospects, projections, and real-time landing spots as they happen.
Notre Dame Football Draft Prospects
- Xavier Watts, S
- Benjamin Morrison, CB
- Howard Cross III, DT
- Rylie Mills, DT
- Riley Leonard, QB
- Jack Kiser, LB
- Mitchell Evans, TE
- RJ Oben, EDGE
- Jordan Clark, CB
- Beaux Collins, WR
- Kris Mitchell, WR
Notre Dame Football Scouting Reports
Xavier Watts, S
Watts is a versatile defender who displays the ability to play single high, as a split safety, and in the box as a rover. A ball magnet with 13 INTs through 2023 and 2024, Watts creates turnovers at an abnormally high clip.
He doesn’t have elite speed, but excels anyway with his elite processing ability, instincts, recalibration quickness, and fluidity. Watts’ awareness and feel shine on the back end, and he has the short-area energy to plant and drive on the football.
In run support, he’s tough and physical, displaying a quick trigger, comfort running alleys, and tenacity at contact. In man coverage, Watts is competitive with his frame density and movement skills, but can struggle at the breakpoint, and his speed limits his efficacy in vertical trail.
As such, Watts is best in roles where he can play spacing and roam with confidence. In those roles, he has the mental acuity, competitiveness, coverage mobility, and playmaking propensity to be a quality starter.
Benjamin Morrison, CB
Benjamin Morrison primarily aligned outside for the Fighting Irish and was often tasked with shadowing the opposing team’s No. 1 option — a challenge he never backed down from. He broke out as a true freshman and boasted elite ball production when healthy, but an injury-riddled 2024 campaign sullied his NFL Draft stock for teams.
How Morrison recovers from his hip injury will be key for evaluators, as hip injuries can be tricky for redirection and coverage mobility. That said, Morrison is trending up, and when he’s fresh, he’s one of the best man coverage defenders in the class.
With his effervescent quickness, competitive mentality, and short-area twitch, he can function as a gnat in press, and that same disruptive imprint shows up at the catch point. At his best in 2022 and 2023, Morrison looked like a first-round talent. With any luck, he can get back to that level.
Rylie Mills, DT
Rylie Mills has above-average size and length. Has elite play speed and can close down on ball carriers in a hurry. Mills is an average run defender who struggles with point-of-attack leverage and physicality. He is a skilled pass rusher who can utilize a multitude of moves to get past offensive linemen.
He had an 18.9% pass rush win rate in true pass sets in 2024. Mills posted elite production numbers in 2024 with 7.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss. He has accumulated a respectable 114 pressures across 1,033 pass-rushing snaps. Mills is a sound tackler who consistently finishes opportunities around the ball. He has missed less than 6% of his career tackling attempts.
Riley Leonard, QB
Riley Leonard is a tough, athletic quarterback with a strong arm and above-average mobility. He’s comfortable throwing on the move and can extend plays with his legs, often making defenders miss in space. Leonard shows flashes of anticipation and touch, particularly on intermediate routes, and isn’t afraid to challenge tight windows.
His leadership and competitiveness stand out, especially in high-pressure moments. However, his mechanics can break down under duress, leading to inconsistent accuracy. He sometimes locks onto his first read and will need to speed up his post-snap processing to succeed against more complex defenses.
Jack Kiser, LB
Jack Kiser is an outstanding coverage linebacker with rare instincts when dropping into coverage. Consistently shows the ability to take away open angles. Zone drops are elite. Has a strong feel for spacing and route development while in zone. Has the ability to cover running backs at a high level in 1-on-1 situations.
Possesses excellent closing speed and great on-ball skills to prevent passes from being completed. A savvy downhill LB who doesn’t get downhill with much force but is still able to shed blocks and make plays. Is a good on-field athlete but hasn’t shown the ability to cover sideline to sideline. An effective blitzer who finds creative ways to get pressure on the quarterback. Elite open-field tackler who takes great angles to the ball and knows how to finish plays. Kiser has an outstanding 4.6% career missed tackle rate.
Mitchell Evans, TE
Mitchell Evans is a reliable, physical tight end who thrives as both a blocker and a possession receiver. He plays with toughness and technique, making him a dependable asset in the run game and in pass protection.
As a receiver, Evans has strong hands and works well in traffic, using his frame to shield defenders and move the chains. He’s especially effective on short and intermediate routes, showing good awareness and timing. While he competes hard after the catch, he lacks the burst and agility to consistently create separation or generate big plays. His top-end athleticism is limited, capping his upside.
2025 Draft Projections for Notre Dame
Based on the last seven-round 2025 NFL Mock Draft from College Sports Network’s James Fragoza, the following Irish players were selected:
- Benjamin Morrison, CB
Round 2, Pick 37; Las Vegas Raiders - Xavier Watts, S
Round 2, Pick 53; Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Howard Cross III, DT
Round 4, Pick 123; Pittsburgh Steelers - Jack Kiser, LB
Round 5, Pick 146; Carolina Panthers - Rylie Mills, DT
Round 5, Pick 160; San Francisco 49ers - Mitchell Evans, TE
Round 7, Pick 234; Seattle Seahawks - RJ Oben, EDGE
Round 7, Pick 235; Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Riley Leonard, QB
Round 7, Pick 238; New England Patriots
Notre Dame Historic Draft Picks by Year
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