The Leading Authority of the NFL Draft

Under the lights Saturday night in Ann Arbor, Michigan, while an exciting unfolded between Notre Dame and Michigan, I watched the heroics of Wolverines quarterback Denard Robinson. But something was lost in transition.

The Fighting Irish have seen their fair share of top receivers—Tim Brown, Raghib ‘Rocket’ Ismail and Golden Tate—make their mark in South Bend, but it’s current senior Michael Floyd who will leave Notre Dame leading the school in every receiving category in the record books.

“It’s amazing that someone as physically big as he is looks like he has that extra burst,” said Rocket Ismail. “It’s pretty impressive to see.” That physical presence is due to Floyd’s immense size of 6’3” and 225 pounds, which allows him to monster over most defenders, who pale in comparison to his elite size.

The luck of Irish was on my side Saturday night in the Michigan press-box because I was seated next to Ismail and received a first-hand account of the things Floyd does to make him stand out. One of the comments Ismail made stood out over most, “Having Floyd is a blessing and a curse.” He made that statement because sophomore quarterback for the Irish, Tommy Rees, threw into triple coverage around Floyd. Sometimes having a guy like Floyd makes the quarterback feel that any pass thrown will be caught by the kid from St. Paul, Minnesota, hence the ‘blessing and curse.’

Simply put, Floyd dominated the Michigan secondary and came close to matching his totals in his previous three match-ups against the Wolverines. With Rees under center Floyd’s final year with the Irish might just be his most productive.

When people discuss the NFL Draft, Oklahoma State’s Justin Blackmon and South Carolina’s Alshon Jeffery take the place as the favorites to be selected as the top wideout if either decides to leave school early. Floyd is ranked as the top senior receiver. Performance and time will indicate if Floyd will take his game to another level in 2011.

“It’s amazing what can be done when you have a guy who has the ability to go pro come back for another year to develop,” offered Ismail. “Right now he is better than he was last year with route execution and run after the catch, things of that nature.”

In the 29 games he played prior to this year, Floyd reached double digit receptions four times. So far in 2011 he has eclipsed that mark in each of the team’s first two games. Floyd is on track to break about every Notre Dame receiving record and already owns the school records for career receptions (196), career receiving yards (2,852), and career touchdowns (30). He tied Golden Tate this past Saturday for most 100 yard games (15).

Eight NFL teams had scouts in the Big House to watch Floyd. I would divulged which teams were keeping note sheets on Floyd your head would spin, but I’ll keep that information in the vault until draft time rolls around. The only thing that will keep Floyd from becoming one of the best is, well, Floyd himself.

In March, Floyd had his third alcohol-related run-in with the law since 2009, which puts all his over the top ability in limbo as the draft clock winds down week after week. It’s time for Floyd to dominate his off-field distractions like he has done to opposing defensive secondaries and finish his final year at Notre Dame in storybook fashion.

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Follow Bo Marchionte on Twitter @NFLDraftBible