Notre Dame Football: Top 5 prospects for 2019 NFL Draft

3. Te’von Coney, Linebacker

Given all of the changes on both sides of the ball this offseason, senior Te’von Coney hasn’t been the topic of discussion for the first time in quite a while. That’s mostly due to the fact that he finally has a position for the first time.

After sitting behind the likes of Nyles Morgan and Greer Martini, things changed in 2017 when Coney went on to lead the team in total tackles and tackles for loss. Additionally, Coney would finish tied for second on the team with three sacks. While Coney technically came off the bench last year, he was a presence on this team that would’ve been sorely missed had he departed.

However, Coney decided to give it one more year with the Irish, this time as a full-time starter. With both Morgan and Martini gone, Coney will be tasked with holding down the fort at middle linebacker my himself given the limited amount of experience behind him on the depth chart.

In short, Coney is an ideal replacement considering the team’s losses on defense. Coney would best serve as a depth piece for an NFL squad, but could translate into a serviceable starter in the right system as well. This alone makes him worthy of a mid-round draft pick, but exciting things are still to come as Coney will be able to showcase his worth in a full-time role.