Laken Litman

laken.litman@indystar.com

SOUTH BEND -- Two of the most well-known NFL draft analysts said Wednesday that DeShone Kizer should go back to school instead of turning pro this year.

While answering 25 questions about the upcoming 2017 NFL draft, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and Todd McShay agreed that Kizer, a redshirt sophomore with two years of eligibility left, should return to Notre Dame. This declaration comes two months after Kiper initially had Kizer as his second-best quarterback in this draft behind Clemson's Deshaun Watson.

A lot has changed since then, including the Fighting Irish ending the season 4-8 and Kizer not being able to lead an effective offense that could finish games. Kizer threw for 2,925 yards and 26 touchdowns with nine interceptions and rushed for eight touchdowns in 2016. He's been encouraged by former Notre Dame quarterbacks Jimmy Clausen and Brady Quinn to forgo his remaining eligibility and enter the draft.

Experts think otherwise.

While answering the question, "Who are the quarterbacks we'll be talking about on the first night of the draft?" Kiper said this:

"I don't see any other first-rounders in the group," Kiper said. "Notre Dame's DeShone Kizer, a third-year sophomore, has to go back to school."

Kiper followed up by noting that this could be the first time since 1996 that a quarterback isn't selected in the first round.

McShay was asked if he'd consider 2017 a "bad QB class." He explained it's not the best year to draft one early and doesn't see any elite prospects.

"Mel is right," he said. "Kizer needs another year."

Kizer, along with left tackle Mike McGlinchey, left guard Quenton Nelson and linebacker Nyles Morgan, all had their names submitted for evaluation to the NFL Draft Advisory Board a couple of weeks ago. The committee slots players into three categories: potential first round, potential second round, or neither, which is effectively a recommendation to stay in school. As of two weeks ago following Notre Dame's season-ending loss to USC, Kizer had not made any decisions regarding his future.

“I think that this season has been a decent representation of who I am as an athlete,” Kizer said when asked about the advisory board evaluations. “Whatever they choose to do for that one report is what they choose to do. I think there’s a lot more information we’re going to have to bring in before we actually make a final decision.”

If Kizer returned in 2017, Notre Dame's quarterback competition would look different than it has the past two seasons. Malik Zaire is transferring, so that leaves Kizer defending his starting position against redshirt sophomore-to-be Brandon Wimbush, who sat out this season to get back the redshirt he burned after Zaire broke his ankle in 2015.