Could Notre Dame's Jalen Stroman be one of the biggest NFL Combine defensive snubs to get drafted into the NFL?
An early Day 3 option for teams looking for safety help, Stroman brings physicality and versatility to any squad that selects him in the 2026 NFL Draft.
At 6-foot-0, 203 pounds, the former Notre Dame defensive back is great at picking up route concepts in zone coverage, has a high IQ with pre-snap recognition and is outstanding as a downhill run stopper from the secondary position. In 2025 with the Irish, Stroman recorded 37 total tackles with 1 interception, 1.0 sacks and recorded a blocked punt.
Stroman’s best performance came on November 22 in a game against Syracuse in which he recorded 8 tackles along with that blocked punt which was returned for a touchdown and this 44-yard pick-six:
Notre Dame won that game 70-7 and the performance earned Stroman Senior Bowl Defensive Player of the Week honors.
Stroman’s path to the draft: Virginia tech to Notre Dame
Before transferring to Notre Dame, Stroman was a highly regarded defensive back at Virginia tech before a broken collarbone quickly ended his season in 2024. As a medical redshirt, Stroman entered the transfer portal and took his talents to Notre Dame where he started off strong in 2025 but lost his starting role after the first three games of the season.
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Not allowing that to hold him back, Stroman continued to display great work ethic and embraced the opportunities he got to win back his starting role On Marcus Freeman’s defense. Ironically, it did start with the career day he had against Syracuse and the pick six that rejuvenated his career.
With the draft approaching, team’s scouting Stroman will pick up on that work ethic and could possibly pick up a diamond in the rough in the middle rounds of the draft.
NFL Draft projection: No. 156 overall to the Indianapolis Colts
He does have some limitations in his range and can improve on his tackling technique, but what a team like the Indianapolis Colts will love besides his versatility at the safety position is his special teams’ contributions that he can bring to the table Day 1.
With his box safety potential, he may remind Colts fans of Bob Sanders given his enforcer mentality. Those are big shoes to fill, but the upside of Stroman lands him into that run support type safety who makes his presence known all over the field, which is the type of secondary defender the Colts will find value in.