Day 3 Recap
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Four Notre Dame Football names were selected on the third day of the 2021 NFL Draft Saturday, giving the Irish a three-day total of nine players drafted to NFL teams. Notre Dame’s nine overall NFL Draft picks give it 520 in program history, the most of any school in the history of the draft.
Quarterback Ian Book was the first Notre Dame player to hear his name called on Saturday, as he was drafted by the New Orleans Saints with the 28th pick of the fourth round (133rd overall).
Defensive lineman Daelin Hayes was taken by the Baltimore Ravens with the 27th pick of the fifth round (171st overall). He was followed by fellow defensive lineman Ade Ogundeji who was selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the 38th pick of the fifth round (183nd overall).
Wide receiver Ben Skowronek rounded out the 2021 Irish draft haul as he was selected by the Los Angeles Rams with the 22nd pick in the seventh round (249th overall).
Notre Dame’s nine picks marked the most in the Brian Kelly era and the most since 10 Irish were selected in the 1994 NFL Draft.
IAN BOOK
Book led the Irish to their second appearance in the College Football Playoffs in the last three years in 2020, on his way to becoming the all-time winningest quarterback in Notre Dame history. In his final season at Notre Dame, Book completed 228-of-353 passes, good for 2,830 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Book, a rare two-time team captain, garnered a number of national accolades in 2020. He was named the 2020 Pop Warner College Football Award winner. He was also tabbed as a finalist for the Manning Award, as well as being selected to the Top 10 for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. In addition to being a semifinalist for the Davey O’Brien Award, he was named to the award’s Great 8 list four times. Book was additionally selected as a semifinalist for the Maxwell Award and the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award, also earning ACC Quarterback of the Week following the Pitt game and Manning Award Star of the Week following the Boston College game. On top of it all, he was also selected as a finalist for the Senior CLASS Award.
Book will join fellow former Irish Tony Jones Jr. (running back) in New Orleans.
DAELIN HAYES
Hayes, a 2020 team captain, was a standout for the Irish both on the field and in the community. He was the 2020 winner of the Freddie Solomon Community Spirit Award and was a finalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year for his work off the field.
On the field, Hayes had 17 total tackles, including 6.0 tackles-for-loss and 3.0 sacks. Hayes also forced two fumbles and had one fumble recovery. He was credited with three quarterback hurries and one interception in his final season in South Bend. He earned All-ACC Honorable Mention honors and was the game ball recipient following the Irish’s win over Georgia Tech.
Hayes joins a pair of Irish in Baltimore as Miles Boykin (wide receiver) and Ronnie Stanley (offensive line) are with the Ravens.
ADE OGUNDEJI
A team captain in 2020, Ogundeji took home All-ACC Honorable Mention honors after helping lead the Irish to a perfect 10-0 regular season record and a trip to both the ACC Championship game and the College Football Playoffs.
Ogundeji tallied 23 stops on the season, including 7.0 TFLs and 7.0 sacks. Additionally, he registered seven quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
BEN SKOWRONEK
Skowronek, who was a graduate transfer to Notre Dame for the 2020 season, made the most of his one season with the Irish. The Fort Wayne, native, recorded 29 catches, good for 439 yards and five touchdowns in 2020.
Skowronek was the game ball recipient in Notre Dame’s win at Pitt after recording the ACC’s single-game season-high for yards per catch at 53.5. He finished the game with two catches (both touchdowns) for 107 yards. His three receiving TDs at Boston College tied for the single-game most in the ACC in 2020.
Day 2 Recap
CLEVELAND, Ohio — Five Notre Dame Football names were selected on the second day of the 2021 NFL Draft Friday, with three former Irish going in the second round, and two in the third.
The five picks thus far in the 2021 Draft mark the fourth-straight year Notre Dame has produced a minimum of four draft selections. And, with five draftees through the first three rounds, 2021 marks the most draft picks in those opening three rounds for Notre Dame since 2016 (six).
Offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg was the first former Notre Dame player drafted, taken by the Miami Dolphins with the 10th pick of the second round (42nd overall). He was followed by offensive lineman Aaron Banks with the San Francisco 49ers at 48th overall (16th pick of the second round) and linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah with the Cleveland Browns at 52nd overall (20th pick of the second round).
In the third round, tight end Tommy Tremble went to the Carolina Panthers at 83rd overall (20th pick of the third round), and offensive lineman Robert Hainsey punched his ticket to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 95th overall (32nd pick of the third round).
With Eichenberg, Banks and Hainsey being taken in Rounds 2 and 3, 2021 marks the first time three or more Irish offensive linemen have been drafted since 2003. In addition, Notre Dame is the first program to have three offensive linemen be drafted in the first three rounds of an NFL Draft since 2001 (and before that, not since 1982).
LIAM EICHENBERG
A consensus All-American, Eichenberg was named to four of the five major All-America first teams (Walter Camp, AFCA, Sporting News and FWAA) in 2021. He also earned nods to the AP All-America second team, as well as first teams for The Athletic and CBS Sports.
Eichenberg won the ACC’s Jacobs Blocking Trophy, honoring the top lineman in the conference, and was an Outland Trophy finalist. With the rest of the Irish offensive line, Eichenberg was a finalist for the Joe Moore Award in 2020, recognizing the nation’s top offensive line unit, and he was also named first-team All-ACC.
With his leadership, Eichenberg helped the Irish lead the ACC and rank seventh among all FBS teams in time of possession.
Eichenberg will join fellow former Irish players Durham Smythe (tight end) and Will Fuller V (wide receiver) in Miami.
AARON BANKS
In 2021, Banks joined Eichenberg as a consensus All-American, earning nods to the AFCA and Associated Press first teams. He was also selected to the second teams for Walter Camp and Sporting News. In addition, Banks noted a slot on the ESPN All-America team, and was named All-ACC first team.
With the offensive line unit, Banks and the Irish were named finalists for the 2020 Joe Moore Award, recognizing the best offensive line in college football. Banks also helped the Irish to lead the ACC and rank seventh among all FBS teams in time of possession.
Banks joins another Irish offensive lineman in San Francisco, with Mike McGlinchey already a 49er.
JEREMIAH OWUSU-KORAMOAH
Owusu-Koramoah won the 2020 Butkus Award, honoring the nation’s top linebacker. A unanimous All-American, Owusu-Koramoah was also selected to the All-America first teams for The Athletic, ESPN, CBS Sports and Phil Steele.
The linebacker was a finalist for the Nagurski Trophy, Bednarik Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy and Bowden Trophy. Named ACC Defensive Player of the Year by conference coaches, he earned All-ACC First Team status in 2020.
This past season, Owusu-Koramoah led the team in tackles-for-loss (11.0 for a loss of 40 yards) and his 62 tackles were one off the team lead.
Owusu-Koramoah will join defensive lineman Sheldon Day in Cleveland.
TOMMY TREMBLE
Widely recognized as one of the nation’s top blocking tight ends, Tremble earned All-ACC Honorable Mention status after his true junior season in 2020. Over his career, he totaled 17 starts at tight end, including 10 in 2020.
On his career, Tremble compiled 35 receptions for 401 yards in just 25 games played, also shining in the run game, as he often served as lead blocker for Notre Dame’s Kyren Williams in a breakout, 1,000-yard rushing season in 2020.
His selection continues a long line of Irish tight ends in the NFL. With Tremble’s selection, every Notre Dame week one starting tight end since 2003 has been drafted, beginning with Anthony Fasano.
Tremble joins former Irish long snapper J.J. Jansen and cornerback Troy Pride Jr. in Charlotte.
ROBERT HAINSEY
Hainsey, a team captain, was selected to the Senior CLASS Award All-America First Team as a finalist for the award in 2020. He was also named a semifinalist for the WIlliam V. Campbell Trophy, which recognizes both athletic and academic achievement.
One of the longest-tenured offensive linemen for the Irish, in 2020, Hainsey served as a two-time team captain. Just 24 players in the history of Notre Dame Football, including Hainsey, have earned the captain role more than once.
With the Irish offensive line unit, Hainsey and Notre Dame were named finalists for the 2020 Joe Moore Award, recognizing the top offensive line in college football. With Banks and Eichenberg, Hainsey helped the Irish to lead the ACC and rank seventh among all FBS teams in time of possession.
Hainsey will join running back C.J. Prosise in Tampa Bay.