NFL Draft Notebook: Scott Wright Analyzes Irish Prospects
In his first three seasons in the NFL, former Notre Dame running back Theo Riddick has developed into one of the Detroit Lions’ most valuable offensive players.
Riddick caught 80 passes out of the backfield in 2015, which led all NFL running backs. He’s become a consistent third-down presence for the organization, even if he is rarely utilized in the running game with 43 carries for 133 yards last season.
Like Riddick, former Irish running back C.J. Prosise actually moved from wide receiver to the backfield during his career in South Bend. During an injury-shortened senior season, Prosise led Notre Dame with 1,032 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns.
Prosise also demonstrated his speed on the field in 2015 and also at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis last month, when he recorded a 4.48 40-yard dash as a 220-pound athlete. His appeal to teams is not only in running the ball, but also as a pass-catching threat.
“I think the success Riddick is having in the league helps Prosise to a small degree, but they’re different types of players and that’s a good thing for Prosise,” said Scott Wright, an NFL Draft analyst that runs the website DraftCountdown.com. “Riddick is always labeled as a third-down situational guy, where Prosise is so much bigger that if you feel confident that he can stay healthy, he can be that true lead back. Very high floor, too. With C.J. Prosise, you’re getting a versatile, all-around back who can run and catch the ball and also a special teamer.
“That can be very valuable for him and a big part of his value on draft day and maybe even push him up a round earlier than he normally would have done. His best football is still ahead of him, and if he can keep learning and stay healthy the sky is the limit for C.J. Prosise. But those are two very big ifs that will keep him on that late day two, early day three range.”
In his most recent mock draft, Wright projects Prosise to the New England Patriots with the No. 92 overall selection in the third round, a match he calls “a great fit” for both team and player.
In all, Wright projects six Irish players to go in the first three rounds of the NFL Draft.
Fist round
6. Baltimore Ravens — Ronnie Stanley, OT
24. Cincinnati Bengals — Jaylon Smith, LB
Second round
36. Baltimore Ravens — Will Fuller, WR
Third round
65. Cleveland Browns — Sheldon Day, DT
90. Seattle Seahawks — Nick Martin, C
92. New England Patriots — C.J. Prosise, RB
Stanley Not A Lock For The Top 10
In post-NFL Combine mock drafts, Ronnie Stanley has been penciled in as early as the No. 3 overall selection. Wright currently has the former Irish offensive tackle being tabbed by the Baltimore Ravens with the sixth overall pick, but sees a range of where Stanley could go.
“I kind of thought all along that he might fall a little further than most expect. I don’t think he’s going to free fall on draft day, but I don’t know that I ever saw him as a sure-fire top-three, top-five overall type of pick,” Wright said. “I think there is a pretty substantial drop-off from Laremy Tunsil of Ole Miss to Stanley. I think Stanley’s going to be right there battling to be that second tackle off the board. Not only is there a big drop-off between Tunsil and Stanley, but I think it’s a lot closer between Stanley and Taylor Decker from Ohio State for that offensive tackle No. 2 spot.
Wright compared questions of Stanley’s passion to former Ole Miss offensive tackle Michael Oher, who fell to pick No. 23 with similar concerns before the Baltimore Ravens selected him.
“Stanley’s a great player and he absolutely looks the part,” Wright said. “I don’t think you can find a better physical specimen in terms of the dimensions and the length and the athleticism, but it reminds me of the situation when Michael Oher was coming out of college. I remember there were concerns about his passion. Is he tough enough? Does he have that killer instinct?
“I remember watching him during practices at the Senior Bowl and he was going out of his way to show everyone how tough he was. He was playing to the whistle and beyond. Anything he could do to show a little extra on there, he did. It’s not the first time it’s happened and ultimately it hurt Oher a little on draft day. …
“I don’t think that’s going to happen with Stanley, but would it shock me if he was available outside of the top 10? No. I could see him going to a team like the Bears or the Eagles or the Lions in the early to middle teens. I think the range is going to be somewhere around No. 6 to 16. Somewhere around there.”