Social media reaction to Notre Dame’s Joe Alt, Blake Fisher and Marist Liufau being taken early in NFL Draft
On Thursday evening, Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt was selected as the fifth overall pick of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers, becoming the highest selection for a Fighting Irish player since Rick Mirer was selected second by the Chicago Bears in 1993.
The Irish had two players picked the following night. One was a surprise; one was not.
The Notre Dame football team increased its number of drafted players in program history to 528, when offensive tackle Blake Fisher was selected in the second round by the Houston Texans and linebacker Marist Liufau by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round. Fisher was expected to be a Day 2 pick, while most draft websites viewed Liufau as a Day 3 selection.
Joe Alt Draft Rection
He is the fourth offensive lineman from Notre Dame selected among the top nine picks in the NFL draft since 2016 (2016 Ronnie Stanley, sixth; 2018, Quenton Nelson, sixth; 2018, Mike McGlinchey ninth).
Alt, who was a finalist for the 2023 Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy, served as the bedrock of Notre Dame’s offensive line from the left tackle position. The North Oaks, Minnesota, native helped the Irish offense finish the regular season ranked ninth in the FBS for scoring offense (39.1 points per game), 12th in team passing efficiency (161.49) and 16th in passing yards per completion (14.02).
Notre Dame’s 39.1 points per game this season is the best average for the program since 1912, and would rank second all-time in the school record book. The Irish were in goal-line situations of five yards or less 18 times this season and converted each time, including 12 rushing touchdowns, four passing touchdowns and two field goals (one of which was forced by the end of a half).
Blake Fisher draft reaction
Fisher was selected in the second round, 59th overall pick, by the Houston Texans and joined Alt to make Notre Dame the first school with two offensive lineman selected in the draft.
Fisher started 12 games in 2023 at right tackle, helping the Irish rush for 2,414 yards (185.7 per game) and allowing just 16 sacks to opposing defenses. The Avon, Indiana, native helped the Irish offense score at the second-highest point-per-game clip in program history (39.1) and eighth all-time in average yards per rush (5.3). Fisher began his career as a true freshman starting left tackle in 2021 in a victory at Florida State. He suffered an injury in that contest, however, and missed the rest of the season before returning to the offensive line to start at right tackle in a Fiesta Bowl matchup with Oklahoma State. Fisher started all 27 games in which he appeared at Notre Dame.
Liufau draft reaction
Liufau was selected in the third round, 87th selection overall, by the Dallas Cowboys, becoming the first Irish defensive player to be selected in the 2024 NFL Draft.
Liufau capped his collegiate career in 2023 by finishing off his second full season as a starting linebacker for the Irish. One of the team’s top tacklers, Liufau performed 44 stops while displaying his ability to drop into coverage (two pass break ups), rush the passer (three sacks) and make plays behind the line of scrimmage (six tackles for loss). He was a semifinalist for the DIck Butkus Award, given to the top collegiate linebacker in the nation, in 2023.
The Notre Dame Defensive Player of the Game after the Navy victory in 2023 (seven tackles, four solo, forced fumble) Liufau appeared in 39 games in his college career with 28 starts, 118 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, four pass break ups and one interception.
