2007 Opponents Draft Results
Here is a quick look at how Notre Dame’s opponents in 2007 fared in sending their players to the NFL this past weekend.
2007 Notre Dame Opponent Draft Results |
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| Opponent | Players Selected | 1st and 2nd Rounders | 2007 Record | |
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Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets |
3 | 0 | 7-6 |
 |
Penn State Nittany Lions |
2 | 0 | 9-4 |
 |
Michigan Wolverines |
6 | 2 | 9-4 |
 |
Michigan State Spartans |
3 | 1 | 7-6 |
 |
Purdue Boilermakers |
3 | 1 | 8-5 |
 |
UCLA Bruins |
3 | 0 | 6-7 |
 |
Boston College Eagles |
3 | 2 | 11-3 |
 |
USC Trojans |
11 | 7 | 11-2 |
 |
Navy Midshipmen |
0 | 0 | 8-5 |
 |
Air Force Falcons |
0 | 0 | 9-4 |
 |
Duke Blue Devils |
0 | 0 | 1-11 |
 |
Stanford Cardinal |
0 | 0 | 4-8 |
A couple of notes:
- The first thing that jumps is out the 11 prospects USC sent to the NFL – that is as many as we have sent over the last two drafts combined.
- Then when you consider that USC had 7 players drafted in the first two rounds alone it really shows you just how much talent Carroll has stockpiled out in LA.
- Other than USC, Michigan (6) was the only 2007 opponent to send more players into the NFL this year.
The fact that USC and Michigan sent more players to the NFL than the Irish should come as no surprise. It is, however, a bit surprising that seven other teams that beat ND in 2007 had less NFL players. Now, these numbers don’t tell the entire story though.
Notre Dame only had 15 fourth and fifth year seniors in 2007 – Laws, Carlson, Zibby, Sullivan, Thomas, Price, Brockington, Jansen, Wooden, Stephenson, Crum, Bragg, Brown, Ferrine, Jabbie, Lambert, and Vernaglia. Of that group, Crum, Brown, and Lambert came back for 5th years and Ferrine transfered to Delaware (where Jabbie may be joining him).
Also note, none of the players selected from Notre Dame were “true seniors” – all were 5th year guys. That brings us back to one of the reasons for Notre Dame’s stuggles in 2007 – a lack of a senior class.
Frank Vitovitch has been Co-Owner and Editor in Chief of UHND.com since joining forces with Kyle Flavin in 1999. Since that time, he has written over 2,000 articles covering Notre Dame football, recruiting, and basketball. He also works with all staff and external writers on all articles published on UHND.com. Frank's love for Notre Dame football started at a young age watching Rocket Ismail give opposing coaches ulcers in the late 1980's. By day Frank works in marketing and holds a degree in Digital Media from Drexel University. Frank's work has been cited by online/print editions of NBC Sports, ESPN, and Sports Illustrated and has been quoted on air by ESPN's Collin Cowherd. He's conducted interviews with Notre Dame legends Rocket Ismail, Randy Kinder, Lee Becton, Reggie Brooks, Michael Stonebreaker, and Ned Bolcar among others over his 20+ years of covering Notre Dame football. He's also been published in the print edition of USA Today Sports Weekly and the USA Today College Football Preview multiple times. Other Published Works/Citations for Frank Three Reasons Notre Dame Will Beat Alabama - USA Today Notre Dame Suspends WR Kevin Stepherson, RB C.J. Holmes Indefinitely - Bleacher Report Notre Dame / Ohio State Fiesta Bowl Preview - Eleven Warriors Brace Yourself: The Fighting Irish are Relevant Again - Sports on Earth Interviews with the Enemy: A Q&A with Frank Vitovitch of UHND - Yahoo! Sports Five Good Minutes: Notre Dame Football Preview With UHND.com - BC Interruption Vicious Electronic Questioning with UHND - MGO Blog
Frankie, you are 100%correct “a lack of a senior class”! The naysayers don’t get it nor will they ever! RECRUITING is everything!
This year as we prove it on the field with a new superabundance of highly ranked players, we will then hear about our percieved cupcake schedule.
However, is it bad as Ohio State’s? And are they now a fraud for loosing twice in BCS Champonship Bowl by a wide margin?