The next class of Irish players heading to the NFL participated at Notre Dame's Pro Day, where they could showcase their skills, athleticism, and personalities in front of professional scouts.
Photo via Notre Dame Athletics
Riley Leonard
Leonard has been busy this offseason, participating in almost every event a draft inductee can do. It started with his weekend at the Senior Bowl, then he performed in the NFL Combine, culminating in this week's Pro Day. The main criticism Leonard has coming into the draft is his ability to throw the deep ball. Leonard tried to show his development in this area, throwing a lot of them at Pro Day. Leonard may have succeeded, going 62/66 on his throws. This was the only workout Leonard participated in, electing not to run the 40. "Everyone thinks I'm really fast, so we're going to keep it that way," Leonard said.
Xavier Watts
Watts is an interesting player this draft cycle, likely a day-one player that will bring an excellent playmaker and smart defender to a team. Watts chose not to work out at the NFL Combine, so this was the first time scouts had the chance to see Watts run through drills. The biggest part of Watts' day was his 40. Watts' 40 time came in at 4.56, a number Watts was happy with. Although Watts is happy with that time, it is on the low end for other safeties in this draft, but is still faster than Kyle Hamilton's time, a name all Notre Dame fans remember. Watts may not have elite straight-line speed, but his feel and instincts for the game allow him to play much faster.
Jack Kiser
Kiser came into Pro Day trying to prove to scouts why they should use a pick on him, as he will likely be a late-round pick or an undrafted free agent. Kiser had a solid performance, participating in every drill. However, Kiser's physical metrics will not be why teams fall in love with him. It is his work ethic, leadership qualities, and experience that will make him valuable to teams. With that being said, Kiser was able to put up 20 reps on the bench press, and ran a 4.62 40, both respectable numbers for his size.
Mitchell Evans
This was the second time Evans worked out for scouts, as he also participated in the NFL Combine. Evans had a solid combine performance, yet he improved in a few workouts compared to his combine times. Those workouts were the 40, shuttle drill, 3-cone, vertical, and broad jump, showing he's been staying busy since his appearance at the combine. There is a lot to like about Evans. He is a big-bodied tight end who is just as good a run blocker as he is a pass catcher. His impact on the offense this past season was limited to his knee injury that took him out of the 2023 season. Before that, he was the go-to target for Sam Hartman and the Notre Dame offense.
Howard Cross III
Cross was also present at the Pro Day, trying to improve his draft stock after another dominant year at Notre Dame. Cross comes into the draft as an undersized defensive tackle for NFL standards, weighing 283 pounds. To counter that, Cross III will need to be quick, which he showed off at his Pro Day. Cross III recorded a 4.63 40, which would've been fourth best at the combine. Along with that, he also ran a 7.53 3-cone, good for the third fastest at the combine. Cross III combined his quick times with 24 reps on bench press, tying Michigan's Mason Graham, a projected early first-round pick. Altogether, this was a productive day for Cross III, giving scouts a look at his combination of speed and strength.
Beaux Collins
Collins' senior season lacked consistency, but that does not mean he did not show flashes of impressive play. Collins was at his best when he used his size and athleticism to get contested catches. This will likely be what NFL teams seek him out to do. At his Pro Day, he helped scouts see that potential with his impressive vertical and broad jump. Collins recorded a 38" vertical, which would've placed him in the upper echelon of wide receivers at the combine. Collins' broad jump was even better, jumping a 10'10", tying him with the fifth best at the combine. These numbers, paired with his 6'3" frame, make him an interesting prospect. Collins now needs to continue to prove to teams that his ball skills have improved from the season.
Besides these players, a few more Notre Dame players were working out, hoping to catch the eye of NFL scouts. Jordan Clark, with his dad looking on, participated in every workout of the day. Clark recorded 18 reps on the bench press, an impressive number for his size. Rod Heard II was also there, a player who did not get a ton of shine this past season but provided crucial depth for the Irish. Notre Dame wideouts Jayden Harrison and Kris Mitchell also worked out. Harrison, famous for his kick return against Georgia, only ran a 4.57 40 time. Mitchell was thought to be a fast player, but did not run as fast as expected, recording a 4.5 time. RJ Oben was also in attendance, putting up 26 on the bench press. That number would've been eighth-best at the combine.
Among all the Notre Dame players conducting workouts for NFL scouts to evaluate, two notable players did not work out. Those two players are Benjamin Morrison and Rylie Mills. Mills is still recovering from knee surgery, causing him to miss out on the combine and pro day. Hopefully for Mills, this injury will not hurt his draft stock too severely. Morrison, who has been recovering from a hip injury since October, did not participate in the combine or Pro Day. Morrison did say in an interview at Pro Day that he is fully healthy but has chosen to work out during his personal showcase.
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