It’s going to be a very exciting and extremely interesting 2018 NFL Draft for Notre Dame Fighting Irish fans. Offensive Guard Quenton Nelson could be a top five overall pick. Offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey could go in the top 10-15. Then you’ll see some skill position players picked in the mid rounds. Wide receiver Equanimeous St. Brown is looking like a round 2-4 pick, while running back Josh Adams projects round 3-4ish.
Additional former members of the Fighting Irish should be selected on day three. We did a “mocksourcing,” showing where all the blue chip prospects are projected, and you can view that over at this link. Also, here’s the link to our latest mock draft, and you can see where we slotted Nelson and McGlinchey.
We also had an exclusive with Notre Dame tight end Alize Mack, where we asked him his impressions of the various Fighting Irish players who will hear their name called this NFL Draft. We asked Mack what it was like to play and practice with these guys, and to tell us what kind of players a NFL would be getting in them.
Mack on Quenton Nelson
“Q is a dominant leader, last year we all fed off of him. His play speaks for itself. You can put the film on and you can see the same guy every week, he’s going to have a very successful career in the NFL.”
Can he go top five? “I believe it.”
On Mike McGlinchey
“Big, physical smart, knows the game, technique. Not afraid to turn down the challenge, and I think that’s going to translate well in the NFL.”
“Having the knowledge of the game and being under (former Offensive line coach Harry) Heistand one of the greatest offensive line coaches in the country in the my opinion. I wish him nothing but the best.”
Mack says he plans on watching the NFL Draft, and on giving all his former teammates a call the night before to wish them well. He said he even went to the grotto and prayed, and lit a candle for each of them.
On Equanimeous St. Brown
“That’s my boy, we’re close, it’s crazy to see how his career has progressed, from playing with him in high school, coming to the same college…great hands, great speed, he’s always looking to get better and grow.”
On Josh Adams
“Hope to see him definitely get picked up, and go somewhere, and he’s going to be successful, as well….strong back, very long, speed, smart, he’s a guy you don’t have to worry about off the field. He’s got his head on straight. He’s a leader, and he loves football.”
Said Mack in summation: “Those are my guys, those are my brothers. It’s going to be exciting to see dreams come true.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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