Zeke Motta, FS, Notre Dame Fighting Irish: 2013 NFL Draft Player Profile

Feb 25, 2013; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive back Zeke Motta catches a pass during the NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

Height: 6’2″

Weight: 213 pounds

Position Rank:

Drafted By:

40 Yard Dash: 4.83

Bench Press: 11

Vertical Jump: 35.5″

Broad Jump: 126″

2012 Stats

Career Highlights (via Notre Dame athletics site)

CAREER: Has not missed a game in his Irish career, playing in all 38 games and starting 16 contests … has totaled 102 tackles, 53 solo stops, two tackles for loss, one-half sack, four pass breakups, two fumble recoveries and two interceptions … enters 2012 with most career tackles among active Notre Dame defensive backs and only Manti Te’o (324 tackles) and Kapron Lewis-Moore (140) have more tackles at Notre Dame … talented, young player enrolled early in 2009 and spent the spring of 2010 practicing at linebacker before moving to safety in fall … utilized more towards middle and end of freshman season as extra rusher in box … carved out major contributing role on special teams in first year with Irish … starts 2012 as a starter at safety along with Jamoris Slaughter.

2011 (JUNIOR): Played in all 13 games, starting eight at safety … tallied 40 tackles, one interception, one pass breakup, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery … recorded three or more tackles in six games … registered three six-tackle games … tallied six tackles in games against Michigan State, Boston College and Stanford … had second career interception at Michigan … forced first career fumble at Stanford … recovered fumble and returned 29 yards for game’s first touchdown against Florida State.

2010 (SOPHOMORE): Played in all 13 games for the Irish, starting against Michigan, Michigan State, Western Michigan, Navy, Tulsa, Utah, USC and Miami (Fla.) … totaled 50 tackles … recorded 30 solo and 20 assisted stops … ranked seventh on the team in tackles … added one and a half tackles for loss (one yard), one fumble recovery, one interception and two pass breakups … tallied three tackles, including two solo stops against Purdue … registered four tackles and a pass breakup against Michigan … registered career highs in total tackles (11), solo stops (five) and assisted tackles (six) against Michigan State … added a half tackle for loss and interception against the Spartans … registered three solo stops and four tackles overall against Stanford and three total stops (all solo tackles) against Pittsburgh … added a tackle for loss against the Panthers … registered four tackles, two solo, in the victory over Western Michigan … totaled six tackles, five assisted stops, against Navy … collected three tackles, two solo stops, against Utah … totaled four solo tackles in the regular season finale at USC … recorded four tackles, three solos, in the Hyundai Sun Bowl victory over Miami (Fla.) … totaled 553 snaps on defense, the fourth most of any Irish defensive back and the second most of any safety.

2009 (FRESHMAN): One of three freshmen to play in every game … contributed primarily on special teams and also moved back and forth between outside linebacker and safety … participated on four special teams units and was standout performer on kickoff coverage where he was credited with eight tackles … ranked fourth on the team in special-teams tackles with eight and tied for second on squad in kickoff return tackles … finished season with 12 tackles including one-half sack and one-half tackle for loss … registered four tackles, including half a sack, against Washington State at San Antonio’s Alamodome … notched three stops against Michigan State … earned 11:06 of playing time and ranked fifth on team with 166 appearances on special teams.

Scouting Report/Player Notes

I’m intrigued by Motta because he made Mike Mayock’s top five list of safeties. Now, I don’t think everything Mayock said is gold, but it’s pretty close. It’s no joke that Motta’s in his top five, especially since Mayock does every Notre Dame game for NBC. Motta never missed a game in his Irish career, but I’m not quite sure I see a top five safety in this draft. His speed really limits him at the next level (slower than Manti Te’o, even), and while he is explosive and can hit people, I’m not sure he’s a full-time starter at safety in the NFL. He was really exposed by Alabama in the national championship game. He is going to be a key special teams player probably and will be in a safety rotation for some team, but I think you can snatch him up in the later rounds and get a guy who can be a key contributor rather than a full-time starter.

Video Highlights (via YouTube)