Notre Dame held its Pro Day on Thursday at the Irish Athletics Center in South Bend. Televised live on Peacock, Notre Dame’s Pro Day offered former Irish standouts one last chance to showcase their skills and catch the eye of NFL coaches and personnel in a critical pre-draft workout ahead of next month’s NFL Draft.
With the NFL Combine already in the books, the big question ahead of Notre Dame’s Pro Day was which potential draftees would participate. Many of the players opted out of the full workouts at the Combine due to the length of last season. Among the Irish players who put their skills to the test in workouts on Thursday were Riley Leonard, Xavier Watts, Mitchell Evans, Beaux Collins, Kris Mitchell, R.J. Oben, and Jack Kiser.
“More than anything, this is a great group,” noted Irish head coach Marcus Freeman on the Peacock telecast. “They’ve accomplished some great things on the field, but they are a great young people that have given their all to Notre Dame. I know they put a tremendous amount of work into this day. I tell them all the time, your film is going to speak louder than anything.”
Riley Leonard Sharp in Pro Day Audition
Battling back from an injury suffered in his previous season at Duke, Leonard’s single season with Notre Dame was a testament to his resilience and adaptability. He overcame a steep learning curve, mastering a pro-style offense. By season’s end, his impressive stats spoke for themselves. He accumulated 2,861 passing yards with 21 touchdowns through the air. A dynamic runner, Leonard racked up 906 rushing yards with 17 touchdowns on the ground.
Leonard arrived at Pro Day with a mission: to showcase his arm strength and accuracy. Connecting with former teammates Collins and Mitchell, among others, a confident Leonard displayed good mechanics and accuracy. Leonard’s 2024 passing numbers might not rivals those of the top quarterbacks in his class. But Leonard, who played in a more conservative system than the others, needed to prove his deep-ball ability. He delivered, tossing accurate passes downfield. His performance should place him firmly in the conversation just below the elite tier of quarterbacks like Cameron Ward, Shedeur Sanders, Kyle McCord, Quinn Ewers, and Jaxson Dart.
Leonard declined to run the 40-yard dash during Pro Day since he is already known as an elusive runner. He will be a good fit for an NFL team that will allow him to utilize his legs. Leonard is not built in the traditional pocket passer mold. The dual-threat signal demonstrated his penchant for extending plays with his legs all season long. That fact, which is evident on tape, will not be lost on NFL scouts. Leonard is a good all-around athlete—he also excels at basketball—and that should also bode well for his draft stock. Most draft evaluators expect Leonard to be a middle to late-round draft pick.
Benjamin Morrison Looks Ahead to a Mini Pro Day
Cornerback Benjamin Morrison, who missed much of last season with a hip injury, attended Pro Day to support his teammates. Morrison did not participate in on-field drills, but put up 17 reps in the bench press.
“I really appreciate being healthy,” Morrison said during an interview on Peacock. “You can take that for granted, and I am living in the moment. So, when you are injured, there are some blessings in it. Trying to find those has been a big thing for me.
“My recovery has been really good,” he added. “I have been able to start running and that type of stuff. I’m aiming, it’s not set yet, but thinking of a mini–Pro Day before the draft just to show I’m healthy. I want to show teams I can move before the big day.”
Jordan Clark made a statement on Pro Day, demonstrating his strength. During the bench press workout, he put up 18 reps. That feat would have landed him third-best among all cornerbacks at the NFL Combine. The display should help solidify his potential as a strong defensive asset at the next level.
Pro Day a Key Stage for Notre Dame NFL Draft Prospects
With NFL dreams hanging in the balance, Irish players seized their final opportunity to prove their readiness for the professional ranks. The high-stakes audition allowed last year’s standouts a chance to showcase their skills in hopes of swaying draft boards ahead of this year’s NFL Draft. The draft is set for April 24-26 in Green Bay.
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