What they're saying about the five Notre Dame players that participated in the Senior Bowl
Five former Notre Dame football players wrapped up their duties at the Reese’s Senior Bowl on Saturday, and feedback on their performances is trickling in. Here is what analysts are saying about linebackers JD Bertrand and Marist Liufau, cornerback Cam Hart, quarterback Sam Hartman and defensive lineman Javontae Jean-Baptiste following their time in Mobile, Ala.
Linebacker JD Bertrand
“It might not be the flashiest draft class for linebackers, but there were several solid prospects at the position in Mobile. I’m giving the edge to Bertrand as much for the way he played as for the leadership he showed.
“Bertrand sees things well and has the ability to diagnose and drive, which he showed on multiple occasions during practice. But what also stood out was his communication with his teammates — providing coaching, encouragement or praise between drills. A two-time captain for the Irish, Bertrand’s intangibles will set him apart from other similarly graded linebackers in this draft.”
“JD Bertrand might not rise above Day 3 range, but Thursday was a good way for him to close out the week. Bertrand won over coaches quickly with his energy and focus, and on the final day of practice, it started to transfer over to his play.
“In coverage drills, Bertrand effectively squared up pass catchers at stems and was able to effectively match and carry in space. And in run drills, he filled gaps well, flowing to the line and using his frame to occlude lane.”
— Ian Cummings, Pro Football Network
Cornerback Cam Hart
“Hart locked down Brenden Rice and Devontez Walker multiple times during practice. Much of that was due to his ability to stay square, patient and he used the sideline to his advantage consistently.
“Hart checked into the Senior Bowl at 6-foot-2 and 204 pounds with 32 5/8” arms. Using that length to jam receivers and redirect them off their routes, he was in good position to play the football all day. It even led to an interception that would have been a pick-six in an actual game. Teams looking for a number two cornerback with plenty of upside may have something here.”
— Russell Brown, The Draft Wire
“At nearly 6’3” and 204 lbs, the main goal of this week for Hart was to show that his size doesn’t prevent him from hanging with twitchy receivers. One-on-one sessions are often designed to display the talent of the receiver or of extremely fluid corners, which is why slot types are often incredibly successful. Hart answered that call a bit more each day, closing throwing lanes and knocking the ball away at a higher and higher frequency.”
“For a bigger corner, Hart is a twitchy athlete and has fluidity that should allow him to translate to the NFL easily. Hart has not only dominated in the 1-on-1s but has also made some huge plays in the team period and goal-line work.
“These are things that should be paid close attention to when evaluating these practices. Hart wasn’t on my radar, but the way he’s performed down in Mobile has me itching to get to his tape more once Senior Bowl week ends.”
— Connor Livesay, The 33rd Team
Quarterback Sam Hartman
“Already carrying stigma due to being the oldest player in Mobile at 24 (25 in July), Hartman struggled during his QB reps.
“He made a nice throw in the first half when one of his receivers ran an incorrect route and he adjusted, but all-in-all, his interception to Brownlee superseded an earlier miss to a wide open Theo Johnson.
“While Hartman still was able to do well on timing plays in short and intermediate routes, his struggles on deep balls continue to be a red flag for the QB.”
— Kevin Skiver, USA Today Network
“The 24-year-old Hartman’s age had evaluators somewhat divided,” Legwold said. “By the time Patrick Mahomes turned 25 — in September 2020 — he was a two-time Pro Bowler, a first-team All-Pro, an MVP winner and a Super Bowl champion. Hartman’s learning curve could be shorter than other prospects in this class, however, given that he started 57 games over five seasons at Wake Forest and one at Notre Dame.
“It’s unlikely Hartman would go undrafted given the need for quarterbacks among teams. But it’s possible he could have his choice of teams and a tidy signing bonus as an undrafted rookie.
“Hartman didn’t always look smooth in the Senior Bowl environment, especially on Tuesday, when he and the other quarterbacks on the American roster were out of sync. He also checked in at 6-foot-1 and 209 pounds, undersized for a player who was inclined to pull the ball down and run as much as he did. He had 11 rushing touchdowns for the Demon Deacons in 2021.”
Defensive lineman Javontae Jean-Baptiste
Linebacker Marist Liufau
“Notre Dame ILB Marist Liufau looks fluid in coverage during 1-on-1s.”
— Ross McCorkle, Steelers Digest
