What Dane Brugler’s 2022 NFL Draft guide says about Notre Dame later-round prospects
“The Beast” earns its name because of its unmatched breadth.
The Athletic analyst Dane Brugler’s annual NFL Draft guide has scouting reports on nearly 400 players in this year’s class, from top prospects to late-rounders to surefire undrafted free agents. It ranks nearly 1,700 players. Notre Dame’s 2022 NFL Draft class covers the entire scope, but has more players in the latter two groups than the former.
Here are some snippets of what Brugler’s guide said about Notre Dame players he graded as late Day 3 picks or free agents. (His evaluations of the three highest-graded Irish players are here).
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Notre Dame NFL Draft links:
• 2022 NFL Scouting Combine: Full results for five Notre Dame football participants
• Notre Dame football 2022 Pro Day results
Quarterback Jack Coan
Brugler’s ranking: No. 8 quarterback
Draft grade: Fifth or sixth round
Summary: “Coan played in offensive coordinator Tommy Rees’ multiple scheme. After missing the 2020 season at Wisconsin because of a broken foot, he found himself Wally Pipped in Madison and transferred to South Bend for his final season. He led the Irish to 11 wins, and his 65.7 percent completions ranked third in school history for a single season.
“Coan is a resilient competitor and efficient passer with a natural feel for where to attack the defense. Although he isn’t a consistent play-extender when flushed, he has impressive movements within the pocket to buy valuable extra fractions of a second.
“Overall, Coan has some athletic limitations, but he does a great job finding rhythm in the passing game and delivers with timing and placement. He has the on-field talent and football character to be a capable NFL backup.”
Defensive end Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa
Brugler’s ranking: No. 33 Edge rusher
Draft grade: Priority free agent (the higest-ranked edge player to earn that grade)
Summary: “A three-year starter at Notre Dame, Tagovailoa-Amosa was an outside pass rusher in former defensive coordinator (now head coach) Marcus Freeman’s four-man front. A 290-pound defensive tackle as an underclassman, he dropped weight and moved outside the tackle as a defensive end as a senior, setting a career best in quarterback pressures.
“Tagovailoa-Amosa is a high-motor player with the active hands and quickness at the snap to challenge blockers. However, he has a tweener body type, and NFL teams question if he has a true position fit at the next level.
“Overall, Tagovailoa-Amosa creates opportunities for himself with his energy and balance through contact, but he isn’t enough of a playmaker rushing the passer or stopping the run. He will have a chance to secure an NFL backup role as a base end.”
Where other Notre Dame players are ranked
Brugler ranked five other 2022 Irish draft prospects in addition to Coan, Tagovailoa-Amosa, safety Kyle Hamilton, running back Kyren Williams and wide receiver Kevin Austin Jr. He did not, though, write scouting reports on them. All are projected to go undrafted and were not invited to the NFL Combine. Here’s where Brugler ranked those five:
• Guard Cain Madden: No. 48 guard
• Defensive tackle Kurt Hinish: No. 33 interior lineman
• Linebacker Drew White: No. 51 linebacker
• Rover Isaiah Pryor: No. 33 safety (the first player listed in “best of the rest”)
• Kicker Jonathan Doerer: No. 10 kicker
