Notre Dame will host Indiana to kick off the 2024 College Football Playoffs on Friday night in South Bend. The Fighting Irish have a handful of prospects that could be potential fits for the Green Bay Packers in the 2025 NFL Draft. Let’s look at three defensive players and one offensive player that Packers fans should watch.
Jack Kiser, LB
With his toughness and leadership qualities, Kiser will have defensive and special teams coordinators pounding the table for him on Day 3 of the draft. Kiser has 929 career snaps on special teams with 14 tackles.
Kiser quickly processes the action in front of him and has a high batting average as a tackler. He moves well laterally and looks comfortable dropping into coverage. He plays with the right amount of insanity that you want out of a linebacker.
A year after spending two Day 2 picks on linebackers, it’s hard to imagine the Packers spending a premium pick on linebackers again in 2025.
With his mental makeup and special teams experience, adding Kiser to the mix on Day 3 is a real possibility for the Packers.
Rylie Mills, DT
At 6-5, 297 pounds, Mills is an imposing figure. He has a strong upper body to create an initial surge off the snap. He enters Friday night’s matchup on a bit of a heater. Over the past four games, Mills has recorded 4.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks to go along with 12 pressures. It’s worth noting that three of those sacks came against Florida State. However, in the other three games he recorded eight pressures and 1.5 tackles for loss without his running mate Howard Cross III, who suffered an injury during the FSU matchup and is expected back for the matchup with Indiana.
Howard Cross III, DT
At 6-1, 289 pounds, Cross is more on the line of the Mike Daniels build. He’s an athletic defensive tackle with the lateral quickness to make plays up and down the line of scrimmage. Cross has a quick first step and once he beats his man he has the burst to get to the quarterback. He plays with great leverage and creates a lot of chaos in the backfield.
Beaux Collins, WR, Notre Dame (#5)
Collins is a well-put-together wide receiver who is dripping in tools with his size, speed and strength. The Clemson transfer has recorded 34 receptions for 472 yards and two touchdowns. The Packers could be willing to take a flier on the athletic wide receiver on Day 3 of the draft.
