Notre Dame’s Pro Day on Thursday, March 21, allowed the Irish’s 2024 NFL Draft prospects to showcase their talents in front of NFL decision-makers. All told, Notre Dame had 12 members of its 2023 team on hand. The familiar faces included quarterback Sam Hartman; running back Audric Estime; offensive tackles Joe Alt and Blake Fisher; defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste; linebackers JD Bertrand and Marist Liufau; nickelback Thomas Harper; cornerback Cam Hart; long snapper Michael Vinson; and placekicker Spencer Shrader.
One former Irish player who faced a significant question was Estime. Despite delivering an impressive overall performance at the NFL Scouting Combine, his 40-yard dash time was 4.71, a less-than-stellar time for a top-tier running back. NFL decision-makers were eagerly waiting to see if Estime could shave off time from that clocking during Pro Day.
Estime Steps Up on Pro Day
Estime not only enhanced his 40-yard dash time, he surpassed it by over a tenth of a second, clocking an official time of 4.58 seconds. Some teams reportedly recorded even faster times on their watches, an excellent sign for Estime. The improved 40-yard dash time bodes well for Estime, who posted an impressive 38-inch vertical jump and a 10’5” broad jump at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis.
“I did well,” Estime said during Peacock’s coverage of Notre Dame’s Pro Day. “Honestly, just all the preparation showed the past three months. At the combine, I didn’t run what I wanted to, but I’m back here where I was, where I went to school. I feel like home, my teammates, my coaches, my family, and I just had to do it for them. And I feel great about my 40.”
When asked about the advice he received from running backs coach Deland McCullough, Estime expressed appreciation for his mentor’s guidance. “It definitely gives me a little advantage to have someone that’s such a mentor like him. I look up to him, honestly, like he’s a great person, not just a coach, but he’s a role model in my life. To have to go through that process while I’m going into it, it gives me a little bit of an advantage over the other guys.”
Hartman Lets it Rip at Pro Day
For Hartman, his collegiate career is over following six successful seasons. Heading into the NFL Draft, Hartman is projected to be a late-round pick and will likely be a backup at the next level.
“I got to give a shout out to Notre Dame,” Hartman told Peacock. “They really hooked me up with having some of the receivers come out that are in Spring ball. That was huge. They just ran 40s, did everything, and they came out and gave me everything they had. It wasn’t perfect. But it was a lot of fun and just great to kind of cap off my college career at Notre Dame and have fun with it and let it rip.”
Hartman transferred to Notre Dame from Wake Forest primarily to play in a pro-style offense. He shared on Peacock what that move meant to him.
“I think it’s a credit to the guys up front,” Hartman said. “I mean, I think you’ve got two of the best tackles (Joe Alt and Blake Fisher) that were at one school. It makes it really easy. And you’ve got the best running back in college football at that time and in the draft in Audric Estime. So, I would say they made my pro (style) adjustment very easy.”
Pro Day Key Takeaway
Estime was the major winner on Notre Dame’s Pro Day. As a result of his improved 40-yard dash, combined with his positive showing at the combine, Estime rightfully is receiving substantial interest. Following the drills, he reportedly met with several NFL teams, including the Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago Bears, Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Commanders. Judging by the interest, Estime could be taken early in the second round of the draft. Given his improved speed at Pro Day and his evident and proven talent, it is undeniable that Estime is poised to excel in the NFL regardless of where is drafted.
