The Other Guys

By now, I'm sure you've heard that DeShone Kizer is one of the most polarizing prospects in the NFL Draft. Some people love him and some people are not as enamored with his potential. Notre Dame fans have had opinions on him for awhile, but now is the time that everyone else is getting a chance to know him and his game. It could be argued they are getting to know him almost too well.

We've heard Brian Kelly speak about him and we've heard Kizer speak about himself a lot. He's been on the NFL Network talking shop with Steve Mariucci and on ESPN doing the same with Jon Gruden. I think I may be able to give interviews with the media for him the rest of the way as I've pretty much memorized exactly the message Kizer wants to get out to everyone.

Mel Kiper has given his opinion on Kizer's potential as has Mike Mayock. Every other "Draft guru" has done the same. There has been a lot of Kizer news in the last couple of months, but not a lot information on the rest of the Notre Dame players who have a chance at getting drafted next week.

That makes sense when you consider that Kizer is likely going to be selected in the first or second round. The other guys? There is pretty much zero buzz about their combined draft stock compared to Kizer. They are going to be drafted later or maybe not at all.

Where do Isaac Rochell, Jarron Jones, James Onwualu, and Cole Luke fit in the mix? They are the four former Irish players who have exhausted their eligibility that are the most likely to have NFL careers. Whether they are selected or signed as free agents will be determined next week.

Here's where some experts have them projected.

Isaac Rochell

ESPN Scouts Inc. Ranking - 16th DE, 181st overall (5th round)

CBS Sports/NFLDraftScout.com Ranking - 27th DE, 317th overall (7th round or UDFA)

These rankings don't mean as much for someone like Rochell, even though the discrepancy between the two rankings are a bit alarming. The reason it's not as important for him is because he is not a tradition 4-3 defensive end. I think most Irish fans could see that over the last few years where he showed he was an above average run defender, but not a threat as pass rusher as an edge defender.

His fit at the next level is likely in a 3-4 as a 5 technique defensive end as he is a bit of 'tweener in a 4-3. The folks at Inside the Pylon pointed that out after he had a strong week at the Senior Bowl, which is a week that should help him have his name called at some point on day three of the Draft.

Mike Mayock was on the Jack Swarbrick show after Notre Dame's Pro Day and had comments on all the former players that are potential NFL picks. Rochell was unable to workout due to a hamstring injury he suffered at the combine, but Mayock had this say about his NFL future.

“Coaches and scouts like him because he works. He’s got a long body. He can play defensive end in your base package. Some teams may even kick him in on sub packages. But he’s a worker bee. He’s a long body, good size, worker and those guys typically play in the league for a while.”

Mayock seems to be referring more to base 4-3 teams, although most defenses in the NFL are multiple these days. Maybe that way of thinking helps Rochell, but I think he is going to find a better fit with 3-4 teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Los Angeles Rams, the Los Angeles Chargers, or Green Bay Packers.

Jarron Jones

ESPN Scouts Inc. Ranking - 19th DT, 175th overall (5th round)

CBS Sports/NFLDraftScout.com Ranking - 17th DT, 164th overall (5th round)

There is no doubt that DirecTV Jarron Jones is a day one or day two pick. The guy who played against Miami is the DirecTV version of Jones.

There also isn't any doubt that too often Jones is the guy who has cable. The one who takes plays off and does not show up for stretches of games. That and his injury history is why he is projected as 5th round pick despite his enormous potential.

Every NFL team could use the DirecTV version of Jones so that makes him an option for every team that passes him physically. It just depends on what teams fall in love with his potential and feel they can tap into it.

This is what Mayock said about Jones after Pro Day and it really boils down to this one sentence that I'm pulling from that interview:

“He’s a highly inconsistent player that flashes on tape."

He said a lot of other things that were complimentary and other things that weren't so complimentary, but that sums up Jones as a prospect. He is physically gifted enough and has enough production to get drafted. It's the inconsistency that will have him drafted lower than he should be given how good he could be.

James Onwualu

ESPN Scouts Inc. Ranking - 22nd OLB, N/A overall (UDFA)

CBS Sports/NFLDraftScout.com Ranking - 31st OLB, 392 overall (UDFA)

Onwualu is the opposite of Jones as a prospect in many ways. He is far less of the flash, but way more of the consistency with the way he works from play to play and day to day. That's probably why he is a favorite of Mayock and Rotoworld Draft analyst Josh Norris.

I can understand why he is projected not to be drafted or to just sneak into the 7th round. He tested well at Pro Day, but he doesn't have the ideal measurables when it comes to his size or length. He isn't someone that projects to be a pass rusher and there he really only has one year of good production. He isn't a strong player at the point of attack either.

With all that said, his intelligence, work ethic, toughness, and athletic ability makes me think he has a good chance to make a team regardless if he is drafted or not.

Here's Mayock on Onwualu:

“He’s one of my favorites this year. I watched him closely at the East-West game. And the East-West game is more for the mid- to late-round and free agent guys. He came in like it was a job interview. And he went to work every day and he did it the right way."

"He plays hard. What’s his fit in the NFL? He probably won’t get drafted. If he does, it will be late sixth or seventh round. But if he doesn’t get drafted, I still think he’s going to make a team. The reason is, I think he’ll be a core special teams player. And I think he can play sub-linebacker. I think he’s the kind of guy that one way or another, he’s going to get into camp and stick.”

After his Pro Day, everyone saw Onwualu speaking with New England Patriots defensive coordinator Matt Patricia who was visiting for Coaches Clinic. I'm not the only who thinks that Onwualu and the Pats would be a great fit, but we'll see where he ends up late next week.

Cole Luke

ESPN Scouts Inc. Ranking - 32nd CB, 305th overall (UDFA)

CBS Sports/NFLDraftScout.com Ranking - Unranked

If Luke was a better tackler, I believe he that he would be drafted. He has always been an instinctive player with good ball skills (eight career interceptions), but he was an average tackler at best during his Notre Dame career. Sometimes that won't matter when it comes to prospect evaluation if the rest of the other boxes are checked off, but the fact that he ran in the low 4.6s at Pro Day means teams are going to worry about his speed. Below average speed and not a strong tackler really lessons the chances he will be selected.

Here is Mayock after his performance at Pro Day:

"I was hoping to see him run faster. I had him at 4.61 and 4.63 [seconds]. I was hoping he’d at least be 4.55 or better. I thought he worked out well. I think he’s got some quickness to him. So I think he’s quicker than he is fast. “Again, will he get drafted? Borderline. Sixth or seventh round at best, probably a priority free agent. But again, he’s going to have to get into camp, play special teams, and compete.”

I think Luke can find a home on a team where they play primarily zone coverage, but I don't see man teams taking a chance on him given his speed. So many teams have strict thresholds when it comes to speed at corner and unfortunately Luke's 40 will have some teams take him off their list.

He'll have a chance to make a team, but I think it's very likely he'll have to do that while being undrafted.