Local Gridiron Talent Shines: Notre Dame and Nearby College Players Make Waves in the 2024 NFL Draft!

In Illinois, the 2024 NFL Draft extends beyond the Chicago Bears. Join us as we monitor the draft selections of college football players from Notre Dame, Illinois, Northwestern, and other nearby colleges. Stay updated on where these local talents land in the 2024 NFL Draft with our draft tracker.

Local Talent Spotlight:

Illinois Natives:
– Bucky Irving, RB, Oregon (Hilcrest native) – Drafted by Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fourth round.
– Logan Lee, Edge, Iowa (Orion native) – Drafted by Pittsburgh Steelers in the sixth round.
– Trevor Keegan, OL, Michigan (Crystal Lake native) – Drafted by Philadelphia Eagles in the fifth round.

Notre Dame:
– Cam Hart, CB – Drafted by Los Angeles Chargers in the fifth round.
– Audric Estime, RB – Drafted by Denver Broncos in the fifth round.
– JD Bertrand, LB – Drafted by Atlanta Falcons in the fifth round.
– Javontae Jean-Baptiste, Edge – Drafted by Washington Commanders in the seventh round.

Illini:
– Casey Washington, WR – Drafted by Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round.

Notable Draft Moments:
– Notre Dame saw three players drafted, with standout offensive tackle Joe Alt going to the Los Angeles Chargers in the top 10.
– Houston Texans picked Blake Fisher, another Notre Dame offensive lineman, in the second round.
– Marist Liufau, Notre Dame linebacker, was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round.
– Jer’Zhan Newton, defensive tackle from Illinois, was selected by the Washington Commanders in the second round.
– Isaiah Adams, offensive tackle from Illinois, was drafted by the Cardinals in the third round.