Rich Hidy, Sports Editor

With a historic rebound season complete and a devastating loss in the championship behind them, many Notre Dame football seniors are preparing for a future at the next level. The NFL is only for the nation’s elite, so credit these players for their commendable playing ability and growth over the past four years. The NFL Draft is a tricky process to understand—some of the best college players go undrafted. It is difficult to judge where many players’ stock will hold come April with the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine approaching, but it is still somewhat possible to put the pieces of the puzzle together. The 32 teams in the league will target players throughout the seven rounds who exhibit supreme athletic ability and have the upside to have long productive careers. Many teams are looking for the next Ray Lewis or Tom Brady – players that can command either side of the huddle for decades. Let’s take a look at Notre Dame’s NFL ready players and the rounds I believe they will hear their names called.

Braxton Cave: The anchor for the Notre Dame offensive line performed extremely well all season. While a positive blocker in both the run and pass, Cave excels in downhill run blocking. The line was a strong point for the Irish and good centers are a rare commodity in the NFL. I see Cave being selected in the fifth round based on his ability to develop into at least a serviceable player with the upside to eventually be a solid starter.

Tyler Eifert: The best tight end in college football this season is guaranteed to be a first round draft pick. He has hands made of glue and should be a good blocker as well. The acrobatic catches he has made all season long will certainly attract a team with a pass-happy offense. The league is moving in the direction of tight ends becoming stars and Eifert fits said category. Eifert compares favorably to a Jimmy Graham-type player and could become a 1,000 yard receiving tight end.

Theo Riddick: He came up huge this year returning to the running back position from wide receiver, which he played during his junior season. Riddick’s versatility is his greatest strength. He can play slot receiver, catch the ball out of the backfield, and run between the tackles. Riddick is shifty and I think his ceiling is becoming a solid backup in a running back rotation. He will not make flashy runs and break many tackles but teams will like his attitude and college numbers. Riddick should be taken somewhere in the sixth round and can make an immediate impact wherever he is positioned.

Cierre Wood: I am not really sure why Wood decided to leave school and declare for the draft because if he had returned for his fifth year on campus, he could have been at least a mid-round pick next year. Wood is an explosive, home-run hitter at the running back position. There is no doubt about his talent, but he didn’t get as many carries this year – a fact which will concern many teams. Wood was also suspended for the first two games this season, does not often catch the ball, and his blocking could also be a concern. Based on his athletic ability, look for Wood to go in the fifth round. He could be a sleeper in this draft if he reaches his full potential.

Manti Te’o: Obviously the most well-known and talented player in the senior class, Te’o was projected to be a top 10 draft pick up until the National Championship. His struggles against Alabama are well-known to Irish fans; that said, he has all the instincts to become a great middle linebacker and some think he could be the next Ray Lewis. Te’o also possesses tremendous leadership skills. The hoopla surrounding the fake girlfriend story may scare some teams, but Te’o should still be drafted by the early second round at the latest – similar to where Rey Mauluga was drafted a few years ago. Needless to say, Te’o would be a steal in the second round .

Zeke Motta: Motta has started to gain more recognition for his solid play. He manned the strong safety spot extremely well and rarely gave up a big play on the back end. Motta is a similar player to Harrison Smith, who was drafted in the first round last year. He won’t get many interceptions, but Motta is a sure tackler and has a nose for the ball carrier. Motta will test well at the NFL Combine and somebody will take him in the third round.

My predictions for players who will be undrafted free agents: Mike Golic Jr., Kapron Lewis-Moore and Jordan Cowart.

Rich Hidy is a First Year of Studies student who plans to become a business major next year. With the football season finished, he has now devoted his undivided attention to Notre Dame basketball. Contact Rich at rhidy@nd.edu.