BREAKING: Notre Dame lineman Pat Coogan is the name to know today
He is the one in the sports spotlight, and it is for football reasons. Notre Dame’s interior offensive lineman Pat Coogan is drawing real NFL attention right now. Coaches and scouts want to see him at both center and guard during the pre draft window. That versatility is his edge, and it puts him squarely on the radar as teams shape rosters.
Who is Pat Coogan, and why teams care
Coogan is a classic Notre Dame lineman. Strong base. Tough hands. Smart with protections. He logged time at guard and trained at center in South Bend. He blocked for a physical run game that leaned on downhill doubles and inside zone. He also protected veteran quarterback Sam Hartman in a pro style structure. That background matters. It tells teams he can handle real line calls, real speed, and real pressure.
Notre Dame has long been a pipeline for linemen. From Zack Martin to Quenton Nelson to Jarrett Patterson, the standard is high. Coogan fits that mold of technician first, brawler second. He does not win with flash. He wins with leverage, timing, and a clean strike. Line coaches love that.
Position flexibility is currency in the NFL. Centers who can play guard, and guards who can snap, get on the field faster.
What his tape shows
Coogan’s game starts with balance. His feet stay under him. That keeps his hands free and his eyes up. He squares rushers and fights back inside when they counter. There is pop in his first step, especially on down blocks. He unlocks his hips through contact and rolls defenders off the spot. In pass pro, he is patient. He does not lunge. He waits, punches, and resets.
There is still work to do. He will need to show a stronger anchor against elite power. Late in reps, he can sit a little deeper and keep his chest cleaner. That is coachable. Scouts will focus on his ability to mirror quicker three techniques and handle twist pickups. They will also test his snap to set quickness if he works at center. These are the checks that can move him up a board.
- Traits evaluators will watch closely:
- Anchor strength against bull rush
- Lateral quickness on slides and games
- Hand timing and independent strikes
- Communication on protections
Watch his inside hand. When it lands first and low, he wins the rep more often than not.
Where he fits on Sundays
Teams looking for day three value on the interior will circle his name. The Bears need interior depth to protect a young quarterback. The Giants want steadier pockets for a new direction on offense. The Jets and Raiders need competition at center and guard. The Cardinals and Commanders are rebuilding their core. Coogan fits these rooms, because he can fill two jobs with one roster spot.
Scheme wise, he profiles best in a mixed run game. He has enough quickness to reach and climb in zone. He has the power to down block and pull on gap plays. That blend is attractive for modern offenses. He will also bring steady snaps in the locker room. O line coaches crave that reliability, and offensive coordinators trust it in close games.
What comes next in the pre draft runway
The next few weeks are about confirmation. Teams will get him on the board to test protections. They will ask him to call out fronts, identify the Mike, and adjust to simulated blitz looks. On the field, he should take reps at both center and guard. The goal is simple. Show foot speed early in drills, show anchor late in one on ones, and finish every rep with strain. If he hits those notes, he will rise.
Private workouts and visits can seal it. Those sessions highlight poise, recall, and coachability. Coogan’s Notre Dame background helps here. He has handled big games, loud stadiums, and complex weekly plans. That translates when the sport gets hard in December.
The bigger picture, and why this matters
Offensive line play decides playoff games. We saw that again this year. Clean pockets make rookie quarterbacks look calm. Tough interior runs help close out leads. Fans do not always see it on the stat sheet, but players feel it on every snap. Coogan is part of that culture. He brings the blue collar edge line rooms need, and the steady mind coaches trust.
This is a real opportunity for him. He is not the loudest name in this class, and that is fine. Guards and centers do not need buzz. They need tape that holds up, a body that recovers, and a brain that processes fast. Coogan checks many of those boxes already. The rest is about stacking good days in front of the right eyes.
If he proves starter level at center, his value jumps. Reliable centers are hard to find, and teams pay for them.
Conclusion
Today’s spotlight belongs to Pat Coogan, the Notre Dame interior lineman with a pro skill set. His versatility, technique, and poise have pushed him into the conversation across NFL rooms. The margin now is narrow. One strong month can change his draft range and his first role. He knows that, and so do the teams watching. The next reps will tell the story.
