#76 Joe Alt pictured playing for Notre Dame in the 2023 ALCFC
#76 Joe Alt pictured playing for Notre Dame in the 2023 ALCFC

From the First Game of the College Football Season to First Round Pick! 

Notre Dame offensive lineman Joe Alt was drafted with the no.5 overall pick in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers.

Alt previously played in the 2023 Aer Lingus College Football Classic where Notre Dame defeated Navy Football with a score of 42-3. 

This is the second consecutive year that a player who featured in the Aer Lingus College Football Classic has gone on to be a first round draft pick.

Former Northwestern Wildcat Peter Skoronski, who featured in the 2022 Aer Lingus College Football Classic when the Northwestern Wildcats took on the Nebraska Cornhuskers at the Aviva Stadium, was a first round pick in the 2023 NFL Draft as the Tennessee Titans selected him with the 11th overall pick.


  

  


  

#77 Peter Skoronski pictured playing in Dublin at the 2022 ALCFC
#77 Peter Skoronski pictured playing in Dublin at the 2022 ALCFC

How does the NFL Draft work? 

  • The NFL Draft sees each of the NFL’s 32 franchises select the biggest stars of College Football to join their squad. These College Football stars are now eligible for the NFL, but where they play will be determined on draft night. 
  • Each of the NFL’s  32 teams receives at least one draft pick in each of the seven rounds of the draft. 
  • The draft order is decided by the reverse order of the previous season, so as the Kansas City Chiefs won the Super Bowl in 2024, they will have the 32nd pick in the Draft, while the Chicago Bears finished with the worst regular season record so they will have the coveted #1 pick.
  • The team with the worst record from the previous season picks first in each round, with the Super Bowl Champion picking last. 
  • Teams can also trade their picks for players, or trade their future picks to improve their draft position. 
  • Each team has a time limit to make their pick.

The NFL Draft will take place in Detroit across three days. 

April 25th- Day 1 (Round 1)

April 26th Day 2  (Rounds 2-3)

April 27th Day 3 (Rounds 4-7)

What Connections Does the ALCFC Have to the Draft?

From 2012 to 2022, 15 players that featured in our game went on to be drafted in the NFL.  

Our 2024 away team Florida State University are expected to have plenty of players drafted this year. Last night, FSU Football defensive end Jared Verse was drafted with the 19th overall pick in the first round by the Los Angeles Rams. 

Notre Dame, our 2023 home team, is projected to have a number of players who played in the 2023 Aer Lingus College Football Classic drafted. Joe Alt was just the beginning!


  

  


  

Calvin Johnson was drafted 2nd overall in the 2007 NFL Draft- Image via: Detroit Lions
Calvin Johnson was drafted 2nd overall in the 2007 NFL Draft- Image via: Detroit Lions

Key Draft Facts:

 Georgia Tech

  • Georgia Tech have had at least one player drafted in the past four NFL Drafts. Last year, Keion White was selected in the second round by the New England Patriots. 
  • Hall of Fame wide receiver Calvin Johnson, and former Georgia Tech player, was selected with the second pick in the first round of the 2007 NFL Draft.
  • Three-time Super Bowl Champion Harrison Butker kicked for Georgia Tech from 2013-2016, and also featured in the 2016 Aer Lingus College Football Classic. He went on to be drafted by the Carolina Panthers before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Florida State University 

  • Jameis Winston is Florida State’s highest-ever draft selection: The quarterback was selected with the no.1 overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 
  • Other 1st round picks include:  Jalen Ramsey, Brian Burns, Derwin James and many more…

Don't miss out on your opportunity to witness the future stars of the NFL at the 2024 Aer Lingus College Football Classic. 

Limited tickets are available HERE.