Six Notre Dame players selected in 2001 NFL Draft
By MIKE CONNOLLY
Sports Writer
Rebounding from a disappointing 2000 NFL draft when only once Irish player was drafted, six Notre Dame seniors were selected in this weekend's NFL 2001 draft.
Mike Gandy, Brock Williams, Anthony Denman, Dan O'Leary, Tony Driver and Jabari Holloway were selected in one of the seven rounds.
Notre Dame's six draftees gave them as many or more draft picks than any school but four. Florida State led all schools with nine picks while Wisconsin followed closely behind with eight. Both Miami and Nebraska had seven players chosen.
The draft ended weeks of intense scrutiny of the players by NFL teams and hours of anxiety waiting for a call from a future employer. But when the phone call came and his name flashed across the screens, every player was excited.
"I was absolutely so excited," said Dan O'Leary who was chosen in the sixth round by the Buffalo Bills. "I got a call from the Steelers saying they were thinking about taking me in the next round and then all of a sudden the Bills click in and say they are really interested. I get off the phone with the Steelers who have a later pick and I stayed on the line with Buffalo who had two picks in a row. Then all of a sudden, there it is, my name comes across the screen."
O'Leary was one of two Irish players chosen by the Bills in the sixth round. Buffalo also selected Irish safety Tony Driver.
O'Leary said he is looking forward to playing on the same team as Driver in the NFL.
"Tony and I get along great," O'Leary said. "I can see us maybe even rooming together next year."
O'Leary's skills as both a tight end and a long snapper made him desirable to the Bills. While he was not rated highly among tight end prospects, he was a capable long snapper. In Buffalo, O'Leary said he will compete for a chance at both jobs.
"The fact that I could long snap helped a ton," he said. "It gave me the opportunity to demonstrate two types of roles that I could play."
Mike Gandy, a third round selection by the Chicago Bears, was the first Irish player chosen. Gandy was a bit surprised that the Bears chose him. He hadn't worked out or spent too much time talking to Chicago in the weeks leading up to the draft.
Nevertheless, Gandy is excited to be playing in Chicago next year alongside former teammates Brad Williams and Jerry Wisne.
"It's good to go to a team with such great tradition like Chicago and such a great sports town," he said. "I just feel really fortunate to have this opportunity."
The New England Patriots gave two Irish players an opportunity to prove themselves next year. The Patriots drafted cornerback Brock Williams in the third round and tight end Jabari Holloway in the fourth round.
Several other Irish players could still sign with NFL teams as undrafted free agents. Offensive guard Jim Jones, wide receiver Joey Getherall and defensive lineman Lance Legree are the three seniors most likely to sign a contract and fight for a roster spot this summer.
All Sports Stories for Monday, April 23, 2001
