Notre Dame talents, including a standout receiver, explosive running back, and powerful tight end, are poised to impress at the NFL Combine, dominating breakout lists.
The NFL Combine kicks off this weekend down in Indianapolis where some of the top athletes in the country will go to showcase their skillsets in front of numerous NFL scouts. Among those are six former Notre Dame standouts; three of them were named on Bruce Feldman's projected breakout list. Some were members of his Freak's List released annually before the kickoff of every season, while others are expected to put on a show this weekend.
No. 21 - Wide Receiver Malachi Fields
"He ranked No. 66 on the Freaks List in 2024 while at Virginia," Feldman said. "At 6-4, 218-pounds, Fields is super strong, having close-grip bench pressed 365 pounds and 21 reps of 225 while at Virginia. He also vertical jumped 38 inches and did a 10-7 1/2 broad jump. His shuttle times were impressive, too, going 4.18 in the pro agility and 6.81 in the 3-cone drill. The athleticism showed up for the Irish in 2025; he caught 36 passes for 630 yards and five TDs."
Oddly enough, Fields was held off of the 'Freaks List' ahead of the 2025 season, but his physical tools were on full display week after week. The Virginia native hauled in one of the best catches of the season against Pitt on the road, making a beautiful one-handed snag over the middle of the field. That was also the game were Fields recorded his third two-touchdown performance of his career. After his performance at the Senior Bowl, Fields is creeping his way up draft boards.
No. 25 - Running Back Jeremiyah Love
"The best running back in college football wasn’t on the Freaks List last year because he was in a recovery phase of his training when the Irish were offseason testing," Feldman explained. "The 6-0, 214-pound former Missouri state 100-meter champion, who ran a 10.76 in high school, has tremendous explosiveness and athleticism and should test very well."
Love is one of the best prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft and is the No. 1 ranked running back on every reputable 'Big Board' out there. He finished his 2025 season off by winning the Doak Walker Award, being named a Heisman finalist, rushed for 1,372 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns. The St. Louis native is a certified first-round pick, the only question is where and when he'll go. In an interesting decision, Love is electing to do every on-the-field drill this weekend down in Indy. It's likely to solidify his spot as the No. 1 overall back and potentially bump his draft stock into the top seven picks.
No. 37 - Tight End Eli Raridon
"The Irish keep cranking out tight ends and Raridon is coming off a solid season where he caught 32 passes for 482 yards," Feldman said about Notre Dame's former No. 1 tight end. "The 6-6, 255-pound Raridon, No. 85 on the 2025 Freaks List, displayed impressive explosiveness last offseason, vertical jumping 34 inches and broad jumping 9-10."
It's likely Raridon will keep up the tradition of every starting Notre Dame tight end being selected in the NFL Draft over the last two decades. Despite not finding the end zone during his fourth and final year in South Bend, the 6-6, 255-pound tight end was a big-play weapon in this year's offense for redshirt freshman CJ Carr. It's unlikely a strong performance in the combine vaults him up to the first or second round, but his draft stock could be dramatically increased with a strong performance this weekend.
Other players like running back Jadarian Price weren't listed by Feldman, but will likely put up gaudy numbers this weekend. It's very likely that Love, Fields, Price and Raridon will be the highest-drafted Notre Dame players this cycle. If all four, along with offensive lineman Billy Schrauth and Aamil Wagner, put on a strong performance at the combine, the Fighting Irish combine invitees will go a smooth six for six on being drafted this year.
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