FOOTBALL

Five Notre Dame players invited to NFL Combine

Eric Hansen

South Bend Tribune

More eye-opening than the list of five Notre Dame players who were invited to the 2018 NFL Combine was one that was left off of it.

Linebacker Nyles Morgan.

ND’s leading tackler and sack leader in 2016 and second-leading tackler in 2017 was not among the 326 players named Wednesday to participate in the invitation-only mass audition for the 2018 NFL Draft.

Projected first-rounders, offensive guard Quenton Nelson and offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey; junior early entries, running back Josh Adams and wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown; and tight end Durham Smythe did make the cut for the combine, to be staged Feb. 27 through March 5 at Indianapolis.

Former Notre Dame safety Max Redfield, who finished his career at Division II power Indiana University of Pa., also garnered an invite.

The 2018 draft is April 26-28 in Arlington, Texas.

NFL Draft analyst Dane Brugler provided that on average 110 combine invitees eventually go undrafted and 35 on average combine snubs find their way into the draft.

Since 2000, only two Notre Dame players, who were not invited to the combine, ended up getting drafted. Both were in the 2007 draft — defensive lineman Derek Landri (fifth round, Jacksonville) and cornerback Mike Richardson (sixth round, New England).

The combine is known for its run/jump/lift-fest elements, but player interviews with teams and medical checks are also an important part of that process.

Notre Dame’s Pro Day, a mini combine of sorts, is set for March 22. That will be Morgan’s first chance to perform for pro scouts, coaches and personnel types. Linebacker Greer Martini and defensive end Andrew Trumbetti will also likely be among the Pro Day participants.

In a recent seven-round mock draft, Bleacher Report analyst Matt Miller projected Nelson to go eighth overall to the Chicago Bears and McGlinchey to be selected late in the first round, 29th to Jacksonville.

Adams was slotted in the fourth round, while Smythe and St. Brown were projected as seventh-rounders in the seven-round draft.

Notre Dame’s Quenton Nelson (56) picks up Equanimeous St. Brown (6) after he caught a touchdown pass as Mike McGlinchey (68) taps his helmet during the Temple-Notre Dame game at Notre Dame Stadium on Sept. 2. All three players, as well as teammates Josh Adams and Durham Smythe, were invited to the NFl Combine, Feb. 27-March 5 in Indianapolis. (Tribune Photo/MICHAEL CATERINA)