2019: 12GP-59 catches-891 yds-15.1 YPC-12 TDs
2nd team All-Independents w/50-639-12.8-4 rec in 13 gms in '18. 29-402-13.9-2 rec, 2--3--1.5-0 rush in 12 gms in '17. 5-81-16.2-0 rec, 1-9-9.0-0 rush in 12 gms in '16.
19 reps, 1.53 10yd HH, 1.56 10yd Electronic, 2.51 20yd HH, 2.57 20yd ET, 4.42 40yd ET, 40 1/2 VJ, 10'06" BJ
Super-SPARQ-y, 21 years old
2. CHASE CLAYPOOL, Notre Dame (6-4, 238, 4.44, 1-2): Made 33 starts at WR over four seasons. Some teams are vociferous about him playing outside in the NFL. Others see him as a TE. “I think he’s big enough to be a tight end,” said one scout. “He’s every bit as big as Travis Kelce. He’s faster than Kelce. That’s who I saw.” His combine numbers were the best by a tight end. “I just don’t see the blocker at tight end,” a second scout said. “I don’t see how he holds up. People had the same conversation with Devin Funchess. You’re talking about the Jared Cook’s of the world. That’s just a different body type.” Finished with 150 catches for 2,159 (14.4) and 19 TDs. “The big ones that don’t make it, like Jonathan Baldwin, is because they’ve got a long ways to go because of (lack) of polish,” the second scout continued. “He’s not that far away. He’s fast, aggressive, has good hands. He was a dog on special teams. If you try to make him a multi-cut route runner, it’s going to be a problem. Let him be a big, fast, vertical, take-the-lid-off, contest-catch-winning guy. Mike Evans is a vertical route runner. I’m not calling this kid Mike Evans, but there are some comparable traits.” From Abbotsford, B.C., Claypool is the first Notre Dame signee from Canada since 1994. He posted a Wonderlic score of 27.
CHASE CLAYPOOL | Notre Dame | WO | #83 | SR | 6042 | 238 | 0978 | 3248 | 8000 | 4.42 | British Columbia, Canada | Abbotsford | 07.07.98 | SRB | NIC | 7.6/8.9 | Rd3
Overview: The first Canadian born player on Notre Dame in two decades, Claypool hails from British Columbia and has modeled his game after Julio Jones. Strong, fast and physical, he checks off all the boxes and is also a phenomenal blocker. Fellow teammate Julian Love, a potential first round pick, credits Claypool as having the most tools of any wide out he ever faced. A high energy player who was a special teams demon early on in his career. He is a leader on the field and in the locker room, as he is an infectious personality beloved by his teammates. He serves as the gunner on the punt unit. His maturity and leadership has been praised by head coach Brian Kelly; Claypool is known to be a coach’s dream. He was one of the big standouts during Senior Bowl week and the NFL Combine, his draft stock is trending all the way up into potential top 50 status.
Medical: Claypool did have surgery on his right ankle earlier in the summer and was brought along slowly for precautionary reasons.
Background: One of the top players ever to come out of British Columbia and an elite wide receiver prospect (last Canadian to sign with the Irish was linebacker Bill Mitoulas from Toronto, Ontario, in 1994). Played for head coach Jay Fujimura at Abbotsford Senior Secondary School. Enrolled in the Mendoza College of Business, majoring in management consulting. Career: Finished with 150 catches for 2,159 yards (14.4), 19 touchdowns in 50 games; 1,037 yards and 13 touchdowns in ‘19; Camping World Bowl MVP.
Q&A: You weighed in nine pounds heavier at the combine than you did at the Senior Bowl, was that intended? I would say I went in kind of light at the Senior Bowl. I didn’t really eat anything or drink anything before the weigh-in, so I was probably more 233 at that time. And I was super-hydrated for this weigh-in just because of the travel cross-country and obviously for things
that we’re going to do. So I would say I weighed in light at the Senior Bowl and a little heavy here. But I’m kind of back down to my natural weight, which is closer to 230.
Q&A: What sports did you play growing up, and when did you first start playing tackle football? My first sport was baseball, at age four. Then I played hockey for a few years. Then I played tackle football at the age of eight years old.
Q&A: Do you, Neville Gallimore et al open the door for Canadians who want to play at this level? Yeah, it definitely does. One of our recruiting coordinators at Notre Dame was asking me about a teammate from high school. I think the opportunities are endless. We just have to get to that point first.
