This year's draft class is Notre Dame's lightest since 2011

Published Apr. 30, 2015 3:19 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Fighting Irish only have four draft prospects with a realistic shot at getting selected, and not one projects to go before the fifth round, according to Rachel Terlep of The Elkhart Truth. It's Notre Dame's smallest pool of NFL-caliber talent since 2011, which was also time the program failed to produce a first-rounder.

Tight end Ben Koyack leads the lackluster class, and even he gets a lukewarm endorsement from his former head coach.

"He’s not a guy that’s going to scare you down the middle of the field, but he’s going to be very efficient with his hands and catching the football," Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said of Koyack, per The Elkhart Truth. "I think he’s a middle-round draft pick, and somebody is going to be very happy to have him on their roster."

After Koyack, it's cornerback Cody Riggs, wide receiver DaVaris Daniels and kicker Kyle Brindza rounding out the rest of Notre Dame's NFL draft hopefuls.

(h/t The Elkhart Truth)

Photo Credit: Joe Camporeale/USA TODAY Sports