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The 2021 NFL Combine is going to have an entirely different look this year due to the league still operating under caution due to COVID-19. The combine is going to be “virtual” and for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish, it will coincide with their Pro Day on March 31.
Among the alterations will be no in-person workouts at the combine as they will take place at colleges’ pro days, all interviews and psychological testing will be virtual and there will be limited in-person medical exams.
The league added it would work with individual schools to achieve consistency in the drills and testing that takes place with each NFL team gaining access of video for the workouts. Schools also will be asked to conduct virtual media availabilities with combine invitees to help “promote” the prospects and the 2021 NFL Draft.
Despite the high level of strangeness attached to this year’s combine, the NFL still issued 323 invites this year. Notre Dame has 11 players that received one of those 323 from the NFL. The Ohio State Buckeyes lead all colleges with 14 players receiving an invitation, but Notre Dame tied the Alabama Crimson Tide with 11 a piece. Those players are:
- WR Bennett Skowronek
- DE Daelin Hayes
- OL Liam Eichenberg
- OL Aaron Banks
- OL Robert Hainsey
- WR Javon McKinley
- QB Ian Book
- LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah
- TE Tommy Tremble
- DE Adetokunbo Ogundeji
- OL Tommy Kraemer
There are, of course, a few players who were big contributors for the Irish that didn’t receive an invitation. There were three notable players:
- CB Shaun Crawford
- CB Nick McCloud
- TE Brock Wright
Despite not having the invitation in hand, all three will be working out during Notre Dame’s pro day.