Notre Dame at the Senior Bowl, Day 3: Isaiah Foskey posts impressive sprint speed, Jarrett Patterson emphasizing versatility
Tommy Rees’ in-person interview to discuss becoming Nick Saban’s offensive coordinator was not the only Notre Dame football-related happening in Alabama Thursday. Irish NFL Draft prospects Isaiah Foskey and Jarrett Patterson participated in their final practice of Senior Bowl week in Mobile, Ala. before they play in the game Saturday (2:30 p.m. ET, NFL Network).
Foskey and Patterson are on the Senior Bowl National Team, which plays the American Team Saturday in the most significant college all-star game of pre-draft season. Foskey has surfaced in the back end of the first round in some mock drafts, but is more often projected as a second- or third-round pick in mocks and on big boards. Patterson is pegged as a Day 3 selection.
Patterson has worked at center and guard at the Senior Bowl, hoping to demonstrate he can fit at either. He started 34 games at center for Notre Dame from 2019-21 before shifting to left guard in 2022.
“I want to show I can play all three spots on the interior,” Patterson said Thursday. “That’s what I have to offer.”
The next major event of the pre-draft process for both is the NFL Combine, which is Feb. 26 through March 6 in Indianapolis. Two other former Notre Dame teammates, tight end Michael Mayer and safety Brandon Joseph, will join them there. Mayer is viewed as Notre Dame’s top prospect in the 2023 draft and is a widely projected first-round pick.
Here’s a roundup of highlights, buzz and observations about Foskey and Patterson from media members at Thursday’s practice.
Defensive end Isaiah Foskey
The Athletic analyst Nick Baumgardner saw Foskey’s first two days of practice as a mixed bag. He noted Foskey’s physical traits were hard to miss – especially the sprint speed.
“[Foskey] has a lot of physical tools, and there have been some ‘whoa’ moments from him, but he’s also been knocked around way too much and caught without much of a pass-rush plan too often,” Baumgardner wrote. “Speed-wise, Foskey flew (18.73 mph) on Wednesday. When it’s good for him, it looks great. He can be a frustrating watch, though, and has to find a better plan moving forward.
ESPN NFL analyst Louis Riddick, meanwhile, has liked Foskey’s overall body of work.
Foskey saw plenty of Maryland offensive tackle Jaelyn Duncan Thursday.
Foskey said this week he wanted to go through coverage drills to help highlight his versatility.
Foskey can run.
RELATED: More Notre Dame football:
• Hey Horka! Four Notre Dame football players to monitor this spring
• Notre Dame 3-2-1: Three numbers, two questions, and one safe prediction
Offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson
Patterson has gotten well acquainted with Wisconsin defensive tackle Keeanu Benton.
Patterson was on the wrong end of one of the more discussed one-on-one reps Thursday. Northwestern defensive lineman Adetomiwa Adebawore walked him backward here.
