SOUTH BEND, Ind. — When DeShone Kizer does turn pro, he’ll likely be among the most coveted players in whatever year’s NFL Draft that may be. But for now, the redshirt sophomore Notre Dame quarterback hasn’t put much thought into his impending stay-or-go decision.
Kizer was asked Wednesday if he’s planning on returning to Notre Dame for his redshirt junior season in 2017, but said his thought process on that potentially life-changing decision hasn’t even reached its nascent stages yet.
“At this point I'm so focused in on doing whatever I can to get us to a position to be bowl-eligible, I haven't really put the time and thought needed to make a decision,” Kizer said. “I know that there will be an opportunity for me to play at the next level, whether or not it would be first round, second round, third round, we have no idea. Once again, I haven't informed myself enough to make a good decision.”
Notre Dame is 3-6, and barring a late-season surge — with wins over strong opponents in Virginia Tech and USC — Kizer’s decision process will begin in early December, not early January. Kizer will have until Jan. 16 to decide to stay at Notre Dame or declare for the NFL Draft.
Kizer in 2016 has completed 60.4 percent of his passes for 2,261 yards with 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions, and has rushed 95 times for 368 yards and seven touchdowns.
“Right now I'm just focused on how I can better myself and what it takes for me to win games here,” Kizer said. “Obviously that next level is something completely different, and I don't know where I fit in in that environment. I just know that right now, I fit in this environment pretty well and I've got to do whatever it takes to get a win against Army.”
CBS Sports’ Dane Brugler has Kizer pegged as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, though fellow mock drafter Rob Rang doesn’t have Kizer as a first-round pick (he has Clemson’s DeShaun Watson and North Carolina’s Mitch Trubisky as the only two first-round quarterbacks). Sports Illustrated and Walter Football similarly have Kizer as the No. 2 pick, while SB Nation has Kizer going No. 3 to the Bears.
With Trubisky and Watson squarely in the conversation, Kizer would hardly be guaranteed to be a top-five pick if he were to decide to turn pro after the 2016 season. But to a certain extent, the 2016 season may impact his decision to stay or go, given that Notre Dame’s 3-6 record meant he at least was willing to entertain the question on Wednesday.
“I haven't talked to my parents enough to really evaluate that,” Kizer said. “I’d say that I wouldn't even accept this question if we were 9-0 and preparing for a National Championship, so I think that is one part of it.
“But at the same time, it's an experience that I'll definitely look back on later down the road that will definitely help me out and teach me truly how to appreciate the wins that we get. Whatever comes next year comes next year, but for now, I'm just really focused in on whatever it takes to beat Army.”