Notre Dame narrowly avoids NFL Draft shutout

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Notre Dame had to wait until the seventh round before its first player was picked in the NFL Draft Saturday.

Tight end Ben Koyack was selected by Jacksonville with the No. 229 pick in the draft, meaning the Irish weren't shut out in the NFL Draft for the first time since 1977. Koyack is the sixth consecutive Notre Dame starting tight end to be picked in the NFL Draft.

Four Irish players -- Koyack, wide receiver DaVaris Daniels, defensive back Cody Riggs and kicker Kyle Brindza -- were considered Day 3 prospects. The three undrafted players signed deals with teams after the draft, with Daniels signing with the Vikings, Brindza with the Lions and Riggs with the Titans.

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Notre Dame had four players request evaluations from the NFL Draft Advisory Board in December, but all four passed on turning pro. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley was considered by some as a first-round prospect while offensive lineman Nick Martin and defensive tackle Sheldon Day likely would've been selected sometime this weekend in Chicago. Quarterback Everett Golson would've been in the mix to be picked, too.

Stanley and linebacker Jaylon Smith, if the latter player declares early, could be first-round picks in 2016.

Notre Dame didn't have a player selected in the 1977 NFL Draft, though running back Al Hunter became the first player ever selected in the NFL supplemental draft that year. 

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