Kyren Williams, from the Notre Dame football team. (Photo by Alika Jenner / Getty Images)
The Notre Dame football program has won ten or more games in each of the past four seasons, making it one of the dominant teams in college football. After a perfect regular season in 2020, the Irishman hesitated in the final stretch, losing both in the ACC title game and the College Football game.
Still, it was a special group, and it could produce up to ten draft choices in the NFL’s 2021 draft. Of that group, two could actually get it right in the first round, as Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is the No. 2 linebacker in the draft class, and Liam Eichenberg is a marginal offensive tackle in the first round.
Looking at the current squad, the Irish have some potential choices in the first round, including a running back star.
Notre Dame football may have a running back in the first round at Kyren Williams
As a redshirt freshman last season, Kyren Williams appeared on the scene for Notre Dame football, running for more than 1,000 yards. In addition, Williams accumulated more than 300 yards in the air and almost as importantly served as a tremendous blocker in the backfield.
His rare mix of athletics, reception and blocking skills will make him a sought-after candidate during the next draft cycle, and he may end up in the first round. Running backs do not usually enter the first round of the NFL Draft, with perhaps one or two a year, but Williams does the whole package by hitting the ball, and leaves the field in the passing game.
Although a Day 2 choice is more likely, the NFL Draft is not an exact science, and Williams brings a lot to the attack.