Eight Notre Dame players are among the 329 draft prospects invited to the 2025 NFL Combine. The eight players are quarterback Riley Leonard; wide receiver Beaux Collins; tight end Mitchell Evans; defensive tackle Howard Cross III; defensive tackle Rylie Mills; linebacker Jack Kiser; cornerback Benjamin Morrison; and safety Xavier Watts. The annual scouting combine will be held at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis from Feb. 27- March 2.
Notre Dame Players Invited to NFL Combine
Quarterback Riley Leonard
Leonard, a dual-threat quarterback, led the Irish offense to the CFP National Title game. All told he rang up 3,767 total yards last season after transferring to Notre Dame from Duke. He was responsible for 38 touchdowns in 16 games. Feared more as a runner than a passer, Leonard will need to showcase his throwing ability. He did that effectively in the Senior Bowl. Leonard finished his Senior Bowl appearance six-of-seven for 54 yards. He played the entire first quarter and the start of the second quarter. Additionally, he had bright moments in big games against Penn State in the Orange Bowl and Ohio State in the National Championship last month. Leonard will need to continue that trajectory to move up draft boards.
Through the air last season Leonard completed 269-of-403 pass attempts (66.7 percent) for 2,861 yards. He threw 21 touchdowns to eight interceptions.
Wide Receiver Beaux Collins
A Clemson transfer, Collins played his final year in South Bend. He caught 41 passes for 490 yards and three touchdowns for the Irish last season. He stepped up for the Irish when needed but also had an issue with dropped passes throughout the year. His size and blocking ability are strengths. But a strong performance at the NFL Combine will be important to his draft prospects.
Collins caught 91 passes for 1,290 yards and 11 touchdowns in his three seasons at Clemson. He broke out late in his freshman season for the Tigers, grabbing 31 catches for 407 yards and three touchdowns.
Tight End Mitchell Evans
Evans made it back into the starting rotation for 2024 after tearing an ACL in 2023. Over his last two seasons, Mitchell hauled in 72 passes for 843 yards and four touchdowns. Mitchell proved to be a reliable pass catcher for Leonard. Especially when it came down to making contested catches in the clutch. Known for his strong blocking ability and dependable hands, Evans is made in the mold of a traditional tight end prospect. He does not possess elite speed or explosiveness, but he is versatile. His skills, including his blocking technique and route-running, will be closely watched at the NFL Combine to see how his skills translate against top-level competition.
Defensive Tackle Howard Cross III
Cross proved an absolute standout during his six-year career in South Bend. He battled injuries this season, however, which slowed his development. Despite being hampered by an ankle injury, Cross recorded four sacks this year and had 5.5 tackles for loss. His quick hands and pass-rushing skills will suit him well at the next level.
Powered by a high motor and consistent play, Cross is a disruptive force on the interior of the defensive line. His quickness, hand technique, and ability to shed blocks are among his strengths.
Defensive Tackle Rylie Mills
Mills finished this season with 7.5 sacks. A lower-body injury suffered against Indiana in the first round of the playoffs will keep Mills on the sidelines during the NFL Combine. He will, however, interview during media sessions at the combine.
A powerful interior lineman with good size and strength, Mills is effective at disrupting running plays. He can also generate pressure in the backfield. While his Combine appearances will be limited due to his injury, scouts will be evaluating his past production and potential for recovery. His overall football IQ and his technique should bode well at the next level.
Linebacker Jack Kiser
Kiser brings a wealth of experience to the NFL Combine. His strengths are in his exceptional instincts, consistent tackling, and versatility. Kiser can diagnose plays quickly and has reliable coverage skills. Particularly against tight ends and running backs. Kiser also brings leadership qualities and special teams prowess. His skills should translate well to the professional level. What he lacks in athleticism, Kiser makes up for in being a smart and dependable defender with a nose for the ball.
Over the course of his career in South Bend (70 games), Kiser recorded 276 tackles, 6 sacks and four interceptions. In his stellar collegiate career, he also forced seven fumbles, and he is fresh off a strong showing in the Senior Bowl.
Cornerback Benjamin Morrison
A hip injury against Stanford cost Morrison much of his 2024 season. The junior is still recovering from the injury and will most likely not participate in drills at the NFL Combine. Morrison is one of the best cornerbacks in Notre Dame history. He was widely projected as a first-round NFL Draft pick at the beginning of the season.
Despite his injury-shortened season, Morrison should be a high-level NFL cornerback. Scouts will be carefully monitoring his medical reports and assessing his recovery progress. Prior to his injury, Morrison had 20 tackles, 14 solo. In 2023, he recorded 31 tackles, 25 solo, and intercepted three passes. He also had a team-high 10 pass breakups that year. He had six interceptions as a true freshman in 2022. Morrison concludes his Notre Dame career with nine interceptions, 27 passes defended, and 84 tackles.
Safety Xavier Watts
A ball-hawking playmaker, Watts is a back-to-back unanimous All-American. Winner of the Bronko Nagurski Award in 2023, Watts tallied 13 interceptions over the last two seasons. He also improved noticeably as a tackler in 2024. He opted to not play in the Senior Bowl to rest after a long and taxing season.
The areas of improvement for Watts will be his tackling technique and consistency. His ability to create turnovers, however, is a highly valued trait in the NFL. Watts will need to demonstrate his overall athleticism at the combine, particularly his speed and agility, to solidify his draft stock.
NFL Combine: Looking Ahead
Following an unprecedented season that placed Notre Dame back in the national spotlight under Marcus Freeman, these eight players arrive at the NFL Combine with a singular focus: to elevate their draft stock. Each brings unique strengths and areas of improvement, and the combine provides the ideal stage to showcase their abilities against top-tier competition.
With the opportunity to solidify their positions as highly sought-after NFL prospects, Leonard, Collins, Evans, Cross, Mills, Kiser, Morrison, and Watts are poised to leave a lasting impression on scouts and teams alike, in the hopes of translating their collegiate success into promising professional careers.
In addition to the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine, Notre Dame will host a Pro Day on campus in late March. The NFL Draft will be held from April 24-26 in Green Bay.
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