NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Following the conclusion of the 2020 NFL Draft, multiple former Notre Dame players have signed undrafted free agent contracts with NFL teams.
See below, and keep checking in, for the Notre Dame Undrafted Free Agent tracker.
Jamir Jones – Texans
Jamir Jones signed with the Houston Texans as an undrafted free agent Saturday. The defensive lineman will join receiver Will Fuller V and offensive lineman Nick Martin in Houston.
Jones saw action in 45 games for the Irish and made his most notable impact his senior season, as he moved into the primary rotation, later earning the program’s “Next Man In” honor. Jones recorded a sack in three straight games against Virginia, Bowling Green and Southern Cal. In the final regular season game at Stanford, Jones had a career day, earning a Pro Football Focus pass-rush grade of 89.8 while recording a sack and six QB hurries.
In 2019, the senior played in 11 games, making 26 tackles with 6.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, a pass breakup, four QB hurries, a fumble recovery and two forced fumbles. In 2016, he was one of just 10 Notre Dame true freshmen to play in at least eight games, as Jones saw action in 10.
In high school, the Rochester, N.Y. native played linebacker, tight end, quarterback and safety, and helped Aquinas Institute to a 13-0 record and 2015 New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class AA State Championship.
Tony Jones Jr. – Saints
Tony Jones Jr. signed an undrafted free agent contract with the New Orleans Saints Saturday.
Notre Dame’s 2019 “Back of the Year” honoree, Jones Jr. made headlines for his physical rushing game, culminating in an 84-yard touchdown rumble in the Camping World Bowl victory over Iowa State. It stands as the longest rush in both Notre Dame’s bowl history and in Camping World Bowl History.
Jones Jr. rushed for at least 100 yards in five games during the 2019 season (Louisville, Virginia, Bowling Green, Southern Cal and Iowa State), becoming the 10th player in school history to reach the feat. His career high came against Southern Cal, when he rushed for 176 yards.
That season, he led the team with 857 rushing yards and six touchdowns, also adding on 15 receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown. His seven touchdowns on the season ranked second, only behind program MVP Chase Claypool.
Over his career, Jones Jr. played in 37 games, rushing for 1,481 yards on 271 attempts and 12 touchdowns. In 2019, he was named to the Doak Walker Award watch list.
Jalen Elliott – Lions
Jalen Elliott signed with the Detriot Lions as an undrafted free agent Saturday. The longtime Irish safety will join fellow rookie Julian Okwara and veteran Romeo Okwara in Motor City.
Tabbed a team captain and member of the Wuerffel Trophy Watch List in 2019, Elliott finished his Irish career with 134 tackles and six interceptions. He saw action in all 51 games that occurred during his Notre Dame tenure, just the sixth Irish player to play in 50 or more games over his collegiate career.
As a junior, Elliott was one of just 35 players in the nation with four or more interceptions, and in his sophomore campaign, he helped a Notre Dame defense that improved by at least 20 spots in the FBS rankings in third down conversion percentage, interceptions, rushing defense, scoring defense, passing efficiency defense, sacks, tackles for loss and turnovers gained.
In high school, Elliott was regarded as one of the most versatile players in the nation. Winning two state championships in 2013 and 2014, Elliott threw for 928 yards and 14 touchdowns in 12 games as a senior, also registering 14 tackles and five interceptions as a defensive back that season.
Asmar Bilal – Chargers
Linebacker Asmar Bilal signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Los Angeles Chargers Saturday. Bilal will become the fifth former Notre Dame player on the Bolts’ roster, joining fellow undrafted rookie Donte Vaughn, 2020 sixth-rounder Alohi Gilman and veterans Isaac Rochell, Jerry Tillery and Drue Tranquill.
Given to the student-athlete who best demonstrates a yearlong commitment to pursuit of the program traits in his preparation, Bilal earned the Notre Dame Football Father Lange Iron Cross Award in 2019. During his graduate year, Bilal ranked third on the team with 79 tackles (48 solo), also recovering a fumble. He received the game ball for his performance against Boston College.
Seeing action in 51 games, he joined Jalen Elliott as the sixth and seventh players in program history to pass the 50-game mark. In those games, Bilal totaled 176 tackles (91 solo), including 17.5 for loss.
Chris Finke – 49ers
Wide receiver Finke signed with the San Francisco 49ers Saturday. The former Irish walk-on made his mark at Notre Dame, playing in 10 games his sophomore year and becoming a tenured starter in his senior and graduate seasons.
Finke totaled 106 receptions for 1,256 yards and eight touchdowns over his four seasons of field action. In his graduate season, he was selected as a captain and ranked third on the team behind Chase Claypool (second round draft selected – Pittsburgh Steelers) and Cole Kmet (second round draft pick – Chicago Bears) with 41 receptions for 456 yards and four touchdowns.
Over the past two seasons, the Dayton, Ohio native occupied the primary punt returner job for the Irish, returning 73 balls for 602 yards.
In his final season at Notre Dame, Finke was a semifinalist for the Campbell Trophy and a nominee for the Burlsworth Trophy. He was a recipient of the ACC’s Postgraduate Scholarship, and was tabbed a CoSIDA Academic All-District honoree.
Donte Vaughn – Chargers
Cornerback Donte Vaughn signed an undrafted free agent contract with the Los Angeles Chargers Saturday. Vaughn will become the sixth former Notre Dame player on the Bolts’ roster, joining fellow undrafted free agent Asmar Bilal, 2020 sixth-rounder Alohi Gilman and veterans Isaac Rochell, Jerry Tillery and Drue Tranquill.
Vaughn played in 41 games over his Irish career, totaling 57 tackles (28 solo) and one interception. During the 2019 season, the Memphis native posted 16 tackles in 10 games, also noting five pass break-ups. Just three players on the Irish defense had more pass break-ups than Vaughn in 2019.
His career-best five tackles came in 2019 vs. Virginia Tech, a game in which he also noted two PBUs. In 2016, he was one of just 10 Notre Dame true freshmen to play in at least eight games, as Vaughn saw action in 10 and started four.