Notre Dame walked away from NFL draft weekend with eight of its former players getting picked, tied with Alabama for the second most of any school in the country, behind LSU's nine. The eight picks also marked the most in a single draft for the Irish in 20 years, as they had 10 draftees in 1994.
In addition, six former Notre Dame players signed with NFL clubs after the draft, with five of those players coming from last season's team.
Seven of Notre Dame's defensive starters from the Discover BCS National Championship following the 2012 season have now been drafted as well: Kapron Lewis-Moore (Ravens, 200th), Manti Te'o (Chargers, 38th) and Zeke Motta (Falcons, 244th) last year; Stephon Tuitt (Steelers, 46th), Louis Nix (Texans, 83rd), Prince Shembo (Falcons, 139th) and Bennett Jackson (Giants, 187th) this year.
It's not a stretch to say that linebacker Danny Spond, who also started against Alabama in the title game, was on track to be drafted prior to retiring before last season because of hemiplegic migraines. It's also worth noting that safety Jamoris Slaughter, who was drafted 175th overall by the Browns last year, started on the Irish's 2012 defense before suffering a season-ending Achilles' tear in Week 3. Two defensive starters from that title game, KeiVarae Russell and Matthias Farley, still have two years of eligibility left at Notre Dame.
Here's a recap of Notre Dame's 2014 draft weekend. Irish transfers Shaquelle Evans (fourth round, 114th overall) and Aaron Lynch (fifth, 150th) were both drafted as well.
DRAFTED
LT Zack Martin, Dallas Cowboys (first round, 16th overall)
DE Stephon Tuitt, Pittsburgh Steelers (second, 46th)
TE Troy Niklas, Arizona Cardinals (second, 52nd)
NG Louis Nix, Houston Texans (third, 83rd)
LG Chris Watt, San Diego Chargers (third, 89th)
LB Prince Shembo, Atlanta Falcons (fourth, 139th)
CB Bennett Jackson, New York Giants (sixth, 187th)
WR TJ Jones, Detroit Lions (sixth, 189th)
UNDRAFTED FREE AGENT SIGNINGS
RB George Atkinson III, Oakland Raiders
LB Dan Fox, New York Giants
LB Carlo Calabrese, Cleveland Browns
QB Tommy Rees, Washington Redskins