Four Notre Dame players make the official 2023 NFL Combine invite list
The biggest event in a monthslong job interview for NFL hopefuls has finalized its list of participants. Four Notre Dame players are on it.
Tight end Michael Mayer, offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson, defensive end Isaiah Foskey and safety Brandon Joseph are among the 319 NFL Combine invitees, which were officially revealed Wednesday. Notre Dame previously announced each had received an invitation. No other former Irish teammates will be joining them, though. The most notable non-invited Notre Dame players are defensive tackle Jayson Ademilola and defensive end Justin Ademilola. The former was out of eligibility, while the latter declined a sixth year to turn pro.
The draft outlook for the four combine invitees ranges from first round to Day 3. A combine invitation is a sign the NFL is interested in learning more about a prospect. NFL teams have already had one extended in-person look at Patterson and Foskey during the predraft process. Both were at the Senior Bowl and participated in its three practices from Jan. 31 through Feb. 2. The combine is Feb. 28 through March 6 in Indianapolis.
Mayer is Notre Dame’s top draft prospect this cycle and has appeared in the first round of nearly all notable mock drafts thus far. He entered the 2022 season as the near-unanimous top tight end in the draft. He remains atop many tight end rankings and is often the first at his position taken in mock drafts. He was the No. 28 overall pick and the first tight end taken in ESPN draft analyst Matt Miller’s most recent mock. ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr. ranks him as the No. 20 overall player and No. 1 tight end.
Mayer’s grip on TE1 status in mocks and big boards, though, has slightly loosened in recent weeks. The 2022 season and the early predraft process created a few other risers at the position. Georgia’s Darnell Washington and Utah’s Dalton Kincaid are above him on NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah’s top 50.
Foskey has appeared in some top 50 prospect rankings and most top 100s. His Senior Bowl performance drew mixed reviews.
“Entering the week, I was hoping [Foskey] would answer some of the concerns that are keeping him from being a slam-dunk, top-50 pick,” The Athletic draft analyst Dane Brugler wrote. “However, I left Mobile wanting more from the Irish pass rusher. The foundation is there, with his speed, length and hammer hands, but you wish there was a semblance of a pass-rush plan.”
Patterson and Joseph are projected Day 3 picks. Kiper slots Patterson as the No. 4 center and does not have Joseph among his top 10 safeties. Pro Football Focus analyst Mike Renner has Patterson as the No. 8 interior lineman and Joseph as the No. 9 safety.
Last year, Notre Dame had four invitees: quarterback Jack Coan, running back Kyren Williams, wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. and safety Kyle Hamilton. Two were drafted – Hamilton at No. 14 overall by the Baltimore Ravens and Williams in the fifth round by the Los Angeles Rams. Austin spent the season on the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad. Coan did not latch on with another NFL team after the Indianapolis Colts released him in the preseason.
