The NFL will be in the house at tonight’s ranked matchup between the (#10) USC Trojans and (#21) Notre Dame Fighting Irish. USC and Notre Dame will meet for the 94th time on Saturday night, with the Irish holding the all-time series lead by 12 wins. However, this specific rendition has NFL execs salivating at the thought of being in attendance. With at least three potential first-round draft picks in action when the Irish host the Trojans (including Heisman Trophy-winner Caleb Williams), reports have surfaced that four NFL general managers will attend tonight’s clash.
Update: In addition to #VIkings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, #Bears GM Ryan Poles, #Giants GM Joe Schoen and #Bills GM Brandon Beane are also at the USC-Notre Dame game, via @ESPNRittenberghttps://t.co/bQeIQNlii7 pic.twitter.com/skhV520lOm
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) October 14, 2023
Top Prospects to Watch at USC-Notre Dame
The Minnesota Vikings’ Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, the Chicago Bears’ Ryan Poles, the New York Giants’ Joe Schoen, and the Buffalo Bills’ Brandon Beane are reportedly going to be in South Bend, Indiana, to watch Notre Dame play USC. Headlining the top NFL prospect will be USC quarterback Caleb Williams. Per Pro Football Focus, Williams is the number one overall prospect for next year’s draft. The All-American has had a spectacular college career, throwing for 85 touchdowns and ten interceptions across three seasons. Williams is trying to match Ohio State great Archie Griffin as the only player to win back-to-back Heisman Trophy Awards.
Pro Football Focus also has USC safety Calen Bullock and Notre Dame tackle Joe Alt as potential top 50 prospects in the Class of 2024. Bullock is a ball-hawking safety with eight career interceptions and 13 pass deflections. Meanwhile, Alt was a first-team All-American in 2022. Notre Dame also has a quarterback that projects to get drafted next year. Senior Sam Hartman, formerly of Wake Forest, has thrown 13 touchdowns against three picks in seven games this season.
Who is in the Caleb Williams Sweepstakes?
At least four NFL teams will have representation via their general managers on Saturday night. The Minnesota Vikings make the most sense for quarterback Caleb Williams, given their current franchise quarterback is in the middle of trade rumors. Minnesota is just 1-4 in 2023. Meanwhile, Chicago and New York could monitor Williams, but their situations are more complicated. Chicago is just three years removed from burning a first-round pick on current quarterback Justin Fields, and the Giants just inked signal caller Daniel Jones to a mega contract last offseason.
The high-powered Bills will most likely be looking at Calen Bullock and Joe Alt, among others, as they house one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL in Josh Allen.