The Notre Dame Fighting Irish will be head-to-head against the Ohio State Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff National Championship. And it’s safe to say that several future NFL players will be on the field. There’s a lot of talent on display, especially for the Irish who probably have the best pro prospects among their ranks.

While 70 players have declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, that number will certainly see a rise by 24th January. Why? Well, that’s the deadline for Notre Dame and Ohio State’s players to declare for the draft. Let’s get into the thick of it and explore all the potential draft prospects who dawn the blue and gold with pride!

Who are Notre Dame Fighting Irish’s 2025 NFL Draft Prospects?

Notre Dame Fighting Irish have provided the NFL with some great talents over the years. Well, this year’s no different as we’ll see several players from the program make their dream of playing in the league come true! Let’s get started.

Benjamin Morrison- We’re starting our list with arguably the hottest player among the Fighting Irish ranks prior to his unfortunate injury. Nonetheless, the 6-foot, 190-pounder is still held in high regard and is one of the most sought-after cornerbacks for this year’s NFL Draft.

Xavier Watts- Who leads Notre Dame in 2024 in interceptions and passes defended? You guessed right, it’s Xavier Watts. The safety leads the team with six interceptions and nine passes defended. This is on top of his previous stellar season in 2023 and there’s no doubt that he’ll be a Day 2 standout prospect.

Howard Cross III- Notre Dame’s defensive lineman is just a straight-up disruptor! Cross III’s strength and physicality are second to none. However, that’s not all, this season he has 24 tackles, six TFLs, and an incredible 4 sacks. It will be interesting to see where Howard Cross Jr.’s son ends up.

Rylie Mills- Another defensive lineman who’s touted to excel in the NFL is Mills, who is a complete package. How? First are his pass-rushing skills, followed by his athleticism and strength, all of which make him poised for success in the league.

Mitchell Evans- The 6-foot-5, 253-pounder is an excellent and highly skilled tight-end receiver. He uses his huge frame and awareness to exploit mismatched defenders. An ability that could help him secure an NFL team. Where do you see Evans end up in this year’s draft?

Riley Leonard- Notre Dame’s quarterback, will be looking forward to the 2025 Senior Bowl to improve his draft stock. Although his struggles this season have been a surprise to many, he should be comfortable, given his physical attributes and dual-treat ability. He has the potential to become an NFL backup.

Jack Kiser- In his sixth season at the Fighting Irish, Jack Kiser is one of the oldest prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft at 25. While this could be seen as a potential con for the linebacker, he can be a solid running player and contribute to the special teams in the league.

RJ Oben- It’ wouldn’t be a surprise if Oben headed to the NFL after his fifth season at Duke. However, he decided to come to Notre Dame, and that might have helped him see a rise in his draft stock! He’s a quality edge rusher, but is he up for the challenge? We’ll see that soon.

Beaux Collins- Coming out of high school Collins was a top-100 recruit. However, apart from a few flashes here and there he has been unlucky with injuries and a system that couldn’t fit with his playing style. All of that has come to an end at the Fighting Irish as he now could picture himself in the NFL.

Jaylen Sneed- While Sneed might not impress many with his frame. He makes up for that with his impressive length and lower body strength. He could be a great pick for any of the teams. We’ll have to wait and watch how everything pans out for Sneed.

Pat Coogan- “Pat Coogan is a technical interior lineman who plays with excellent extension and has the athleticism to expand a playbook in the run game from the guard spot.” said Joe Moore about the linemen. He has great athleticism and will be a great pick given his gap-heavy and zone-heavy run scheme working experience.

Where might the Fighting Irish QB Riley Leonard end up in the 2025 NFL Draft?

Riley Leonard has spent three seasons suiting up for the Duke Blue Devils before transferring to Notre Dame. Over time, many people asked only one question: why? Well, after giving a bunch of answers, he finally revealed the truth. “Yeah, throughout this whole off-season everybody would ask me why I came to Notre Dame and I would give a lot of different answers, but the truth is I came here to win a National Championship and to go to the best team that would give me the best chance to do that,” He said in an interview with On3.

Well, the moves seem to be paying off big time! Given he’s on the cusp of making his dream come true. He’s an experienced, cool-minded operator from the center. Leonard is a great passer from the pocket with great mechanics. Furthermore, his anticipation is on par with NFL-level QBs. As per reports, the Notre Dame quarterback might be viewed as a great backup option, and teams could choose him on the second day. San Francisco 49ers and Indianapolis Colts might be great fits for Leonard. However, we’ll have to wait and watch where he eventually ends up.