Interior defensive linemen that can rush the passer rank high on the list of rare personnel commodities for NFL general managers. It's one reason former Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald moved up draft boards and positioned himself as the No. 13 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, and it helped Caraun Reid of Princeton find his way into the fifth round.
Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly -- not one to be overly complimentary -- believes he has a defensive tackle with that ability in Sheldon Day, and Kelly's description of the 290-pound junior might evoke some excitement for Day among NFL scouts.
"He has incredible ability to rush the passer for an interior defensive lineman," Kelly told FOX Sports. "He's very unique in that sense. Most of those guys are two-down players, where you get 'em off the field on third downs. He could arguably be our best pass rusher as an inside guy. We may have to move him outside on third down. He has a unique skill set. He can be great against the run on first and second downs, and then on third downs can offer the ability to rush the passer."
Often, defensive ends good enough to play every down slide inside to play tackle on third down, sending defensive tackles like Day off the field. Kelly's suggestion that Notre Dame might play Day inside-out -- holding down the run on early downs and moving him to the edge on passing downs -- is practically unheard of, and if effective, would no doubt draw plenty of scouting attention. The numbers Day posted as a sophomore last season -- just half a sack in eight starts -- don't exactly inspire.
But then again, that's just 2.5 sacks fewer than Jadeveon Clowney, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, made last season.
*Follow Chase Goodbread on Twitter **@ChaseGoodbread*.
