When Notre Dame offensive lineman Billy Schrauth announced he was declaring for the NFL Draft, it caught some fans off guard. But if you ask NFL analyst Daniel Jeremiah, the surprise might not be warranted - because Schrauth, in his eyes, has all the tools to be a legitimate starter at the next level.
Jeremiah recently broke down tape of Schrauth’s final game - a clash against USC - and came away thoroughly impressed. “Just finished ND OG Billy Schrauth & the USC tape was excellent,” he posted. “Don’t have any measurables & haven’t heard any buzz but he has starter ability.”
That’s not just a throwaway line. Coming from Jeremiah, it’s a meaningful endorsement.
Schrauth hasn’t been a regular name in mock drafts, and there hasn’t been much pre-draft chatter around him. But that could change quickly.
If teams dig into the tape like Jeremiah did, they’ll see a player who might be flying under the radar now but could turn into one of this draft’s hidden gems.
The key, of course, will be proving he’s fully healthy. Schrauth’s final season in South Bend was cut short by a knee injury - the very same game against USC that Jeremiah praised was also his last collegiate snap.
That’s a tough way to end a season, especially when you’re trying to make your case to NFL scouts. But when Schrauth was on the field, he was playing at a high level.
And that USC tape? It’s a strong final statement.
Notre Dame insiders had been high on Schrauth all season. Before the injury, he was anchoring the interior of the line and showing the kind of physicality and awareness that translate to Sundays. He wasn’t just holding his own - he was dominating stretches of games, moving defenders off the ball and showing the kind of footwork and technique that coaches love to build around.
The fact that he declared for the draft despite the injury speaks to his confidence - and maybe to a quiet confidence from teams that have already seen enough. If Schrauth can prove he’s back to full strength during the pre-draft process, whether at a Pro Day or private workouts, he could go from under-the-radar to on-the-roster very quickly.
He may not have the buzz right now, and he may not have the combine measurables - at least not yet - but Billy Schrauth has something more important: game tape that tells the story of an NFL-ready guard. And for the right team, he could be a low-risk, high-upside pickup - whether that’s late in the draft or as a priority free agent.
Bottom line: Schrauth’s name might not be front and center right now, but don’t be surprised if it is come training camp. The tape doesn’t lie - and if Jeremiah’s right, Schrauth’s best football is still ahead of him.