The Implications of Notre Dame’s NBC Contract Extension

Notre Dame supporters received the news we all expected to hear this month on Wednesday. Joe Alt, one of Notre Dame’s 2023 captains and the best left tackle prospect to come out of South Bend since Ronnie Stanley, has decided to miss the Sun Bowl and his senior season in order to join the NFL Draft.

Alt is projected to be at least a top 10 pick — if not somewhere in the top 5. His decision is a no-brainer, but it’s also a little heartbreaking. Our former 3-Star tight end that Notre Dame finally went to as almost a last option at left tackle in 2021 is now one of the best in business — and he’s gone.

LB In 2024, Jack Kiser will return to manage the Notre Dame defense; star left lineman Joe Alt declares for the NFL draft

Without a doubt, sixth-year linebacker Jack Kiser will be Notre Dame’s defensive captain in 2024. The Indiana native revealed on Wednesday that he will return to the Irish defense for his final season of eligibility.

Kiser quoted former Notre Dame head coach Lou Holtz as saying, “Those who know Notre Dame, no explanation is necessary.” If they don’t, no explanation will suffice.”

The same could be said about Kiser’s defensive impact. On a per-snap basis, no one on the Irish defense finds the ball more often than Kiser. No one on the Irish defense is a better tackler per tackle.

In 2023, he has 59 tackles, one sack, one forced fumble, two passes broken up, and one interception. Kiser has 182 total tackles, 10.5 for loss, 3.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, ten passes broken up, four interceptions, and two defensive touchdowns in his career.

He’s just had to share his workload with classmates JD Bertrand and Marist Liufau, the former of whom has committed to play in a postseason all-star game, implying NFL intentions, and the latter of whom has already opted out of the Sun Bowl against No. 19 Oregon State on Dec. 29 to begin preparing for the NFL draft.

Kiser will still share the field with sophomores Jaylen Sneed and Preston Zinter, as well as freshman Drayk Bowen and Jaik Ausberry, but he should finally be the primary linebacker, capable of playing all three positions and so coming off the field significantly less frequently than in previous seasons.

Notre Dame now knows it has a veteran presence up the middle of the field on at least two of the three levels with Kiser leading the way, with defensive tackle Howard Cross also returning in 2024. The Irish are still hoping that current senior All-American safety Xavier Watts will return, giving the defense a three-tiered backbone that should be able to withstand most any test.

If Watts returns, Notre Dame will have at least four defensive starters back, with cornerback Benjamin Morrison serving as the fourth. Rylie Mills, a current senior defensive lineman, and Jordan Botelho, a current senior defensive end, might make it six.

While it is less than ideal, adding Duke transfer defensive end RJ Oben to the line will produce a veteran front, and Kiser’s return in the center will help Al Golden’s defense coordinate.

Notre Dame will not have the luxury of an experienced offensive line, especially now that junior left lineman Joe Alt declared for the NFL draft on Wednesday, opting out of the Sun Bowl.

“Saturdays in Notre Dame Stadium playing for the Notre Dame fans is what I will remember the most,” Alt said on his Twitter account. “Truly the best fan base in America.”

After a string of injuries left the Irish grasping for straws early in the 2021 season, Alt surged to the starting left tackle position, working through Blake Fisher, Tosh Baker, and Michael Carmody inside the first month of the season. Alt had only recently graduated from high school tight end.

Nonetheless, he stepped in as the fourth option at left tackle and never relinquished the position, even when Fisher returned for the 2021 Fiesta Bowl. Alt started the final eight games of the 2021 season and then every game the following two seasons.

The general agreement All-American will now join Fisher as the first Notre Dame offensive lineman to enter the NFL draft following their junior seasons.

To replace Alt in the Sun Bowl, expect the Irish to turn to Baker, who is widely regarded as the favorite to carry on the left tackle tradition in South Bend. Since his debut in 2010, Zack Martin has never been picked lower than the second round (Liam Eichenberg at No. 42 overall in 2021), and he has produced three top-16 draft picks (Martin, Ronnie Stanley, and Mike McGlinchey).

Alt should have four top-16 draft picks and at least three top-10 draft picks.