Notre Dame Football: Top 5 prospects for 2019 NFL Draft

1. Drue Tranquill, Linebacker

Fifth-year senior Drue Tranquill announced his return to Notre Dame at the team’s award banquet, the ECHOES. It’s been all hard work for Tranquill since his announcement, due much in part to his switch from rover to inside linebacker. With this decision comes many responsibilities along with a renewed captain role.

A local four-star talent out of Fort Wayne, IN, Tranquill began contributing immediately as a true freshman, logging 33 total tackles, one tackle for loss, and one interception in his first year. After tearing his ACL not once, but twice, Tranquill came back and registered 79 total tackles, two passes defensed, and one interception in his junior year.

Tranquill had his best season in 2017, recording 85 total tackles, 1.5 sacks, and 10.5 tackles for loss. Tranquill was also involved in four turnovers, logging one interception while forcing one fumble and recovering three.

After numerous productive seasons, one would think that Tranquill was a shoe-in for at least a mid-round pick. However, the absence of the rover position in most NFL defenses left him in-between two positions. However, with the move to inside linebacker and some extra weight, Tranquill may see himself moving up many general manager’s future draft boards.