Houston Texans select former Notre Dame OT Blake Fisher in second round of 2024 NFL Draft
When Notre Dame started Blake Fisher in his first-ever college game, it had a pretty good idea he would wind up in the NFL. Now, that idea is reality.
The Houston Texans selected Fisher with the No. 59 overall pick Friday night. He is the second former Irish player taken in the 2024 NFL Draft, following fellow offensive tackle Joe Alt.
After missing most of his freshman season due to a knee injury suffered in that first start at Florida State in 2021, Fisher claimed the starting right tackle job and didn’t let it go for two full seasons. He started all 25 games for Notre Dame over those two years, quickly becoming a well-known draft prospect and even earning some first-round speculation entering 2023.
“I would just say it presents my hard work and my dedication,” Fisher said on March 2 at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, regarding his fight back from injury in 2021. “My will to want to be one of the best, and I feel like the coaching staff that I had around me, believing in me and my abilities helped me be able to do that.”
Known for his power in the run game, Fisher improved as a pass blocker as a junior. His Pro Football Focus pass blocking grade improved from 68.9 to 72.5, and he played arguably his best game against the best competition.
Fisher only allowed one pressure against Ohio State. The Buckeyes feature two future NFL edge rushers in Jack Sawyer and J.T. Tuimoloau, both of whom returned to school but will be potential first-round picks in the 2025 draft.
“Ohio State, USC, I’ve had a lot of good games,” Fisher said at the Combine. “You can turn on the tape and see the kind of player I am.”
Alongside Alt as Notre Dame’s bookend tackles, Fisher helped lead the Irish offensive line to Joe Moore Award semifinalist honors in 2023. Notre Dame featured one of the most efficient rushing offenses in the country this past season, ranking 13th nationally with 5.3 yards per carry.
Running behind Fisher, running back Audric Estimé turned in one of the best seasons on the ground in program history. He totaled 1,341 yards on 210 attempts (6.4 yards per carry) and scored a program-record 18 rushing touchdowns.
Fisher allowed 3 sacks and 15 total pressures in 345 opportunities this past season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Coming out of Avon (Ind.) High in the class of 2021, Fisher was a coveted four-star recruit. He was the No. 56 player and No. 7 offensive tackle in the On3 Industry Ranking, as well as the No. 1 player in Indiana.
Fisher had offers from every powerhouse school (Alabama, Ohio State, Georgia, LSU, Oregon, etc.) but he chose to stay close to home and attend Notre Dame.
