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For the 12 former Notre Dame Fighting Irish players whose phones didn’t ring during the 2019 NFL Draft, the hours afterward are an opportunity to field inquiries from interested teams and pick the right fit.
TYLER NEWSOME
Tyler Newsome, a former punter and captain, was the first to sign. He picked the Los Angeles Chargers, who had already drafted his teammates, Jerry Tillery and Drue Tranquill.
The Los Angeles #Chargers have signed #KohlsKicking punter Tyler Newsome of Notre Dame as an undrafted free agent. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/Z5YbnMO9tF
— Kohl's Kicking Camps (@KohlsKicking) April 27, 2019
Tyler Newsome is going to be the third Irish this weekend to join Isaac Rochell with the @Chargers.#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/juJ9xXTc4O
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) April 27, 2019
I want Tyler on my team every time. Good luck with the @Chargers, Tyler. You’re in good company!#ChargersDraft #GraduatingChampions pic.twitter.com/RaMXlXwf7O
— Brian Kelly (@CoachBrianKelly) April 27, 2019
SAM MUSTIPHER & ALEX BARS
Captains Sam Mustipher and Alex Bars have selected the Chicago Bears, which will reunite them with former offensive line coach Harry Hiestand. Mustipher was a center and Bars plays guard.
Im a Chicago Bear!!! Bear down! ⬇️
— Alex Bars (@AlexBars_) April 28, 2019
Our OL captains will be reuniting in Chicago. @AlexBars_ is joining the @chicagobears with @smustipher53.#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/Qjpqj7iEtv
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) April 27, 2019
Chi Town!@smustipher53 is headed to the @ChicagoBears.#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/KKnDZpsYoT
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) April 27, 2019
Sam has been a leader on the field and in the locker room during his time at Notre Dame. Good luck with the @ChicagoBears, @smustipher53! #GraduatingChampions pic.twitter.com/GBKkavGD2t
— Brian Kelly (@CoachBrianKelly) April 27, 2019
JALEN GUYTON
The former North Texas Mean Green receiver has signed with the Dallas Cowboys. Jalen Guyton redshirted his freshman season at Notre Dame before transferring to a community college and later resurfacing in Denton.
Denton ➡️ Dallas
— North Texas Football (@MeanGreenFB) April 27, 2019
Congratulations to WR @_dreamjg (Jalen Guyton) on reportedly agreeing to terms as a free agent with the @dallascowboys! The Allen native stays close to home!#GMG #NFLMeanGreen #MeanGreenFamily pic.twitter.com/gSgw3VzihG
TE’VON CONEY
Te’von Coney, who was projected to be a Day 3 pick, signed with Oakland Raiders about an hour after the draft.
Raiders here I come ☠️
— TC4️⃣ (@TevonConey) April 27, 2019
TC4 @tevonconey will be joining the @Raiders.#GoIrish pic.twitter.com/SXQyD7zvzj
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) April 27, 2019
Offenses beware of @TevonConey! Good luck with the @Raiders, Te’Von!#RaiderNation #GraduatingChampions pic.twitter.com/Ck0tD2ILdM
— Brian Kelly (@CoachBrianKelly) April 28, 2019
Coney, a 6-foot-1, 234 pound player from Palm Gardens, Fla. watched 25 other linebackers get picked Thursday, Friday and Saturday. He was considered by the Pro Football Focus to be the third best off-ball linebacker available, behind LSU Tigers’ Devin White and Michigan Wolverines’ Devin Bush. Both Devins went in the first round. PFF also had him as the 57th best player on their big board.
Coney started all of the Irish’s 13 games in 2018, and registered 123 tackles, 9 1⁄2 tackles for loss, four sacks, four pass breakups and one interception. The linebacker was named to the Associated Press’ All-America third team following the regular season.
JAY HAYES
Jay Hayes, a former defensive end, played his final season with the Georgia Bulldogs. The Pittsburgh Steelers have signed him.
Grateful for the opportunity @steelers ready to work!
— Jay Hayes (@JayHayesNY) April 28, 2019
NICK COLEMAN
The Raiders have invited Nick Coleman, a former Irish safety, to participate in the team’s rookie minicamp next weekend, a source told the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Michael Gehlken.
The Irish are feeling the Cali love this weekend. @ndotcole_24 will be joining @tevonconey with the @raiders. #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/BnlzoY5QTd
— Notre Dame Football (@NDFootball) April 28, 2019
.@NDotCole_24 stepped-up for us in critical moments this fall, and I could not be happier for him as he continues his career with the @Raiders.
— Clark Lea (@Coach_Lea) April 28, 2019
I have so much respect for you, Nick, and appreciate all your contributions to our program! pic.twitter.com/HSvekAYJXm
Congratulations @NDotCole_24 on joining the @Raiders! We are all so proud of you. #GraduatingChampions pic.twitter.com/s6pZgXBjY7
— Brian Kelly (@CoachBrianKelly) April 28, 2019
Still waiting are:
- Defensive tackle Jonathan Bonner
- Safety Justin Brent (who finished his career with the Nevada Wolf Pack)
- Wide receiver Corey Holmes (who played graduate seasons with the Purdue Boilermakers and the FCS Morgan State Bears)
- Cornerback Nick Watkins (who played his graduate year with the Houston Cougars)
- Tight end Nic Weishar
- Kicker Justin Yoon
TO ALL UDFAs: FUCK THAT DRAFT! THEY SLEPT ON YOU! LOOK ON THE BRIGHTSIDE.. YOU CAN GET TO THE REAL MONEY MUCH FASTER!!!
— Jarron Jones™ (@Who_GotJones94) April 28, 2019
Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio said up to 2,880 roster spots will be filled as camps open, but that number will drop to 1,696 by the Saturday before Labor Day — which means some of these connections will be short-lived.
The Irish had six draft picks this year: defensive tackle Jerry Tillery (first round, Los Angeles Chargers); wide receiver Miles Boykin (third round, Baltimore Ravens); defensive back Julian Love (fourth round, New York Giants), linebacker Drue Tranquill (fourth round, Los Angeles Chargers), running back Dexter Williams (sixth round, Green Bay Packers), and tight end Alize Mack (seventh round, New Orleans Saints). Notre Dame has had 504 players selected since the NFL Draft started in 1936.