Notre Dame Football

A rough 3-3 start led to an impressive 6-1 finish in South Bend as Notre Dame football rebounded in head coach Marcus Freeman's first year at the helm.

The Fighting Irish will send a quartet of impressive draft prospects to the 2023 NFL draft, all of whom could end up being selected by the time the fourth round ends.

Tight end Michael Mayer, who is ranked No. 5 overall on the B/R NFL Scouting Department big board, leads the way. He was fantastic for the Fighting Irish last season, amassing 67 receptions for 809 yards and nine touchdowns.

B/R NFL scout Derrik Klassen wrote that the 21-year-old "has the potential to crack into that upper echelon of tight ends in a few years."

Mayer will now take his talents to Las Vegas, where he should be the Raiders' top tight end after the Silver and Black traded Darren Waller to the New York Giants.

The B/R crew is also a big fan of edge-rusher Isaiah Foskey, who is ranked 10th overall among edge-rushers and 55th on the big board, making him a solid second-round choice.

The 22-year-old amassed 11 sacks and 45 tackles in 12 games this past season and could well carry that type of production over to the NFL. He'll be joining the New Orleans Saints after they took him No. 40 overall.

Sticking on the defensive side of the ball, safety Brandon Joseph played one year at Notre Dame after transferring from Northwestern. He amassed 10 career interceptions, including six alone in 2020.

Interior offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson received a comparison to seven-year NFL center Matt Paradis from B/R NFL scout Brandon Thorn. Patterson is a two-time Notre Dame captain who amassed 46 starts (34 at center, 12 at left guard).

Here's a look at how Notre Dame players fared in this year's draft alongside their B/R NFL scouting reports.

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Notre Dame Draft Prospect List

Edge Isaiah Foskey (B/R NFL Scouting Report): New Orleans Saints (No. 40)

S Brandon Joseph (B/R NFL Scouting Report): Detroit Lions (UDFA)

TE Michael Mayer (B/R NFL Scouting Report): Las Vegas Raiders (No. 35)

C Jarrett Patterson (B/R NFL Scouting Report): Houston Texans (No. 201)

List via NFL.com

Notre Dame quarterback Tyler Buchner reportedly will enter the transfer portal.

According to ESPN's Pete Thamel, Buchner is expected to have a "strong market" since he is the most accomplished quarterback to enter the portal during the spring period but is willing to return to Notre Dame.

Buchner, a junior with three years of eligibility remaining, played three games last season, including a Gator Bowl win over South Carolina in which he finished 18-of-33 passing for 273 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions and rushed for 61 yards and two scores on 12 attempts.

In 2021, Buchner was rated by 247Sports as a 4-star prospect as well as the No. 71 player and No. 11 quarterback in the recruiting class.

After playing sparingly as a freshman in 2021, Buchner had a chance to win the starting job ahead of the 2022 season, but the Fighting Irish went with Drew Pyne, who threw for 2,021 yards and 22 touchdowns against six interceptions in 11 games.

While Pyne transferred to Arizona State in December, the door did not open for Buchner to become the starter, as the Irish netted a huge transfer in Sam Hartman, who threw for 12,967 yards and 110 touchdowns with 41 interceptions in five seasons at Wake Forest.

That included 4,228 yards and 39 touchdowns with 14 picks in 2021 and 3,701 yards and 38 touchdowns with 12 picks last season.

In the Blue-Gold spring game Saturday, Hartman dominated with 189 passing yards and three total touchdowns, while Buchner was just 8-of-18 for 44 yards with an interception.

It was already widely assumed that Hartman would be the starter in 2023, and the dichotomy between him and Buchner in the spring game perhaps removed all doubt.

Thamel suggested Alabama, Stanford and TCU are potential landing spots for Buchner after they lost their starting quarterbacks via the NFL draft.

Alabama in particular could be a good fit because former Notre Dame offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Tommy Rees holds those roles under Nick Saban with the Crimson Tide.

Bama is looking to replace potential No. 1 overall draft pick and 2021 Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young, and Buchner would enter the mix with Jalen Milroe and Ty Simpson if he transfers there.

HEIGHT: 6'0"

WEIGHT: 202

HAND: 9"

ARM: 30⅞"

WINGSPAN: TBD

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40-YARD DASH: 4.62

3-CONE: 7.08

SHUTTLE: 4.23

VERTICAL: 30.5"

BROAD: 9'10"

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POSITIVES

— Versatile defender who can play at all three levels of the defense with the ability to blitz.

— Has a good feel in zone coverage, showing awareness and football IQ.

—Very good ball skills when playing center field. Reads quarterbacks' eyes and looks to jump routes.

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NEGATIVES

— Heavy-footed at times. Lacks burst from standstill.

— Takes poor angles in the open field, leading to missed tackles.

— Lack of play strength can show up at times. Can get bumped off routes when defending tight ends and bigger receivers. Deficiency can also show up when tackling.

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2022 STATISTICS

— 10 games, 30 tackles, 1 INT, 1 PBU, 1 FF

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NOTES

— 31 Starts

— 2022 Transfer from Northwestern University to Notre Dame

— 2021 AP First-Team Preseason All-American

— 2020 AFCA First-Team All-American (Unanimous)

— 2020 AP First-Team All-American

— 2020 AP First-Team All-Big Ten

— 2020 AP Big Ten Newcomer of the Year

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OVERALL

Brandon Joseph was a one-year player at Notre Dame after transferring in 2022 from Northwestern University. While at Northwestern, Joseph displayed All-American talent, showing elite ball skills and the versatility to play at multiple levels of the defense.

Joseph excels in playing the pass by showing the ability to play deep center field; he demonstrated the range to get to the sideline and the ball skills to track the ball in the air. When playing the pass, he shows great anticipation and the ability to read the quarterback's eyes. As a man or zone defender, he has shown the football IQ needed to read route combinations and the ability to put himself in good positions.

He can struggle at times with his movement skills, lacking the twitch and burst needed to carry routes from a standstill. When playing in underneath zones, he does a good job getting hands on receivers and falling under them to take away windows.

Joseph's flaws often present themselves in the run game. Though he is a willing run defender, he often takes poor angles, where he has to readjust last minute, leading to shoestring tackles or missed tackles altogether.

When tackling in tighter quarters, he can run through ball-carriers and give a little extra thump. However, he often sits and catches ball-carriers, giving up extra yards and taking the brunt of the collision.

Ultimately, Joseph has flashed some impressive skills throughout his career but has been largely inconsistent. He will need to shore up his tackling, which had way too many arm tackles and missed tackles. His versatility gives him more of a chance to find a role, but his lack of short-area quickness will be a concern at the next level. He will need to find a role on special teams while he fights for a spot within the secondary.

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GRADE: 6.4 (High-Level Developmental Prospect/Round 5)

OVERALL RANK: 150

POSITION RANK: S12

PRO COMPARISON: Deionte Thompson

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Cory Giddings

HEIGHT: 6'5"

WEIGHT: 306

HAND: 10"

ARM: 31⅜"

WINGSPAN: TBD

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40-YARD DASH: 5.33

3-CONE: 7.96

SHUTTLE: 4.73

VERTICAL: 29.5"

BROAD: 8'10"

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POSITIVES

— Very good hand placement and strike timing to connect inside of the defender to create quick leverage with the dexterity to replace/refit to stay engaged.

— Efficient footwork, pad level and precise aiming points on double-teams to cover up and pry open the first-level defender while tracking the linebacker with clear eyes.

— Arrives on contact under control with rooted feet and does a nice job playing long to maximize his arm length.

— Smoothly transitions into his anchor with low, tight and active hands that fight to create lift as he gradually reduces the bull-rush.

— Seamlessly picks up and passes off basic line games and twists.

— Outstanding finisher with the effort to inspect piles, pick up runners and strain on blocks through the whistle.

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NEGATIVES

— Marginal arm length.

— Mediocre lateral quickness and redirect skills lead to quick losses across his face when his initial punch doesn't land.

— Adequate square power and leg drive allows hulking head up nose tackles to cover him up, create quick stalemates and delay his releases to the second level on zone climbs.

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2023 STATISTICS

— 12 starts at left guard

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NOTES

— Former 4-star offensive tackle recruit out of Mission Viejo High School in California

— 46 career starts: 34 at center and 12 at left guard

— Suffered an assortment of injuries during his college career but missed minimal time: Lisfranc injury in 2020 caused him to miss four games; torn pectoral muscle and turf toe caused him to miss one game in 2022

— Two-time team captain

— Invited to the Reese's Senior Bowl

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OVERALL

Jarrett Patterson was a four-year starter in Notre Dame's multiple run-heavy offense centered around split-flow zone runs, power and duo. Patterson is a renowned leader with the proven ability to play through injuries and maintain a high standard on the field. Patterson is tall with marginal arm length and adequate athleticism.

Patterson is a technician in the running game with an excellent feel on combination and double-team blocks, knowing how to dig out first-level defenders and release in a timely manner to intersect second-level targets.

He shows plus core strength with excellent hand placement and maximizes the length that he does have by playing long with rooted feet at the point of attack. Patterson has only adequate power to handle hulking interior run defenders one-on-one but understands the intent of the play and keenly refits on blocks to create alleys and seals.

He has excellent competitive toughness, playing with consistent effort to run to the ball, dive into piles and strain to finish blocks.

Patterson shows good timing, patience and tight placement with his strikes in pass protection to establish quick leverage on rushers before transitioning into his anchor efficiently to cut grass, brace and create lift with his hands.

He is also a quick processor who is best at the pivot with guard help, orchestrating the calls pre-snap and providing timely help when uncovered to protect the A-gaps. His below-average lateral quickness and redirect skills got him into trouble when dealing with more space and isolated matchups at guard.

Patterson is a technician, using his hands and pads to create leverage in the running game with a reliable anchor. He brings extensive experience, versatility across the interior, renowned leadership and toughness. He is a below-average mover with adequate raw power and marginal arm length but has enough of the other critical traits and intangibles to carve out a lengthy career as a swing interior backup or starter at center if the opportunity arises.

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GRADE: 6.8 (Potential Role Player/Round 4)

OVERALL RANK: 110

POSITION RANK: IOL10

PRO COMPARISON: Matt Paradis

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Written by B/R NFL scout Brandon Thorn

Notre Dame is still looking for an offensive coordinator after Tommy Rees left to join the Alabama Crimson Tide.

ESPN's Pete Thamel reported Utah offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig told the Fighting Irish he will remain with the Pac-12 program despite interviewing with the traditional powerhouse. The ESPN report noted "Ludwig's buyout—of at least $2 million, the exact number depending on how the buyout impact is interpreted in the contract's rollover year—proved an obstacle in discussions with Notre Dame."

This is somewhat of a surprise considering ESPN's Heather Dinich reported Friday that Ludwig was the "leading candidate" for Notre Dame after he "impressed" head coach Marcus Freeman in an initial interview and flew to South Bend, Indiana, for an in-person meeting.

That Ludwig, who has stops with Utah, Oregon, Vanderbilt, Wisconsin, San Diego State and Cal on his resume, is so experienced also figured to work in his favor since Dinich noted "Freeman is looking for a proven playcaller who can continue to run a pro-style offense and fit seamlessly with the current staff."

Yet he will remain with a Utah squad that will be looking for its third consecutive Pac-12 title during the 2023 campaign.

While Ludwig has been the Utes' OC the past four years, he also held the same position for the team from 2005-08. Utah went undefeated and won the Sugar Bowl over Alabama during the 2008 season when he was on staff.

As for Notre Dame, it is in this current position because Rees left his alma mater to join Nick Saban at Alabama. Rees previously coached with Northwestern and the San Diego Chargers before returning to the Fighting Irish as a quarterbacks coach in 2017.

Notre Dame promoted him to OC in 2020.

Whoever the Fighting Irish hires will be one of the coaches in charge of an expected quarterback competition between Tyler Buchner and Wake Forest transfer Sam Hartman. The decision will be key in the program's efforts to bounce back from a solid but unspectacular 9-4 effort during the 2022 season.

Notre Dame's losses to College Football Playoff contenders in Ohio State and USC showed its ceiling, and inexplicable defeats to Marshall and Stanford showed the floor can still be relatively low compared to the established standard of excellence for the program throughout its history.

Ludwig will not be the OC tasked with helping reestablish the team as a CFP contender.