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SCOUT NOTEBOOK

2011 Preseason Draft Insider: Currently, Floyd is suspended from Notre Dame because of a DUI but reports indicate that he will be allowed back onto the team. Floyd is a big, physical wide receiver with good hands. The question surround him entering the draft will be his long speed but Floyd has the ability to be a number one wide receiver in the NFL. - Draft Insider: Top 10 Senior Wide Receivers

2010 Preseason Skinny: The St. Paul, Minnesota native teamed up with 2010 second-round pick Golden Tate to give the Fighting Irish the deadliest one-two receiving punch in the nation. Many of Jimmy Clausen’s long pass completions were a product of Floyd’s ability to high-point the football and make catches in traffic. The wide out is blessed with impeccable timing, leaping ability, hands and concentration. In his last 14 contests Floyd has turned in nine 100-yard games and found the end zone 14 times. That’s the good…now for the bad. During that same stretch (starting on September 27, 2009) the Golden Domer has missed eight full games (out of a potential 22) due to injury. A knee strain caused him to miss three games as a freshman and he missed five more as a sophomore thanks to a broken collarbone. A strong finish to his 2009 season indicates that there are no long-term effects, but it certainly calls his durability into question. If he can avoid the trainer’s room in 2010 it will go a long way in securing a first round slot for Floyd when he decides to put his name in for the NFL Draft, which could be as soon as 2011. Checking in at number 19 overall on our 2011 NFL Draft watch, Floyd currently sits behind SEC standouts A.J. Green and Julio Jones, but the Notre Dame product possesses the skill set to challenge any and all comers as a pass-catching prospect. Gone are Clausen and Charlie Weis but with highly-touted Dayne Crist lining up under center (ok, mostly shut-gun) and Brian Kelly calling the plays, don’t expect any drop-off in Notre Dame’s aerial attack.

2010 Preseason Scout's Take: Entering his junior season Floyd stands out as one of the elite prospects in the 2011 NFL Draft in terms of upside, making him a possible top-10 pick if he declares following the 2010 campaign. His combination of football instincts, pro-style offense experience, a limitless route tree, exceptional athleticism and incredible hands make him a unique prospect at the position. He enters the season behind fellow juniors A.J. Green and Junior Jones, but that does not mean the Notre Dame product can’t emerge as the top wide receiver prospect in next year’s draft. Floyd has the potential to quickly become an elite number one receiver in the NFL and a quarterback’s best friend for a decade. More important than putting up gaudy numbers in Brian Kelly’s pass-happy offense, Floyd needs to prove to the scouting community that his previous injuries were fluky and not a forewarning of an injury-plagued career.

LATEST NEWS

08/18/11 - In the wake of scandals that have rocked college football, including the mushroom cloud hovering over Miami’s program, decisions such as the one Kelly made to reinstate Floyd will be scrutinized more than ever. In the end, however, and despite the obvious potential for conflict of interest, Kelly was the person most qualified to determine Floyd’s fate. ‘‘A lot of coaches would’ve let me go and whatever happened happened, but he stuck with me because he knew I was a better person than what I showed with the mistakes and bad decision-making,’’ Floyd said. ‘‘He has given me another chance, another opportunity to help this team and help myself be successful.’’ Floyd worked out by himself this spring and is more than 10 pounds below his 230-plus-pound playing weight from 2010. Although he could end the season as Notre Dame’s all-time leader in career receptions and receiving yards, as well as touchdown receptions, he’s focusing on becoming a better blocker and route runner. More important, he’s on schedule to graduate in December before beginning what many anticipate will be a highly successful NFL career. Source: Chicago Sun Times

06/29/11 - Suspended Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd has been sentenced to one year's probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor drunken driving charge stemming from an incident in March when he reportedly had a blood-alcohol level more than double the legal limit. Floyd remains suspended from the team pending the resolution of the judicial aspects of the case, but has been allowed to take part in voluntary off-season workouts. Floyd was also cited for underage drinking in Minneapolis on Jan. 8, 2010 after police were called to a fight involving six to 10 people. The pattern of behavior is sure to catch the eyes of NFL scouts, who thoroughly conduct in-depth background checks into prospects and will have to make a determination on his character. If Floyd wants to maintain his status of a potential first round pick, he will need to stay out of trouble and continue to make headlines for his performance on the field, not off it.

06/06/11 - Suspended Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd will be allowed to participate in voluntary workouts this summer with the team, but the senior has not been reinstated. Notre Dame made the announcement Monday. Floyd was suspended by coach Brian Kelly after he was arrested in March and charged with misdemeanor drunken driving. He has pleaded not guilty and his attorney has said he expects to work out a plea deal. Floyd is Notre Dame's career leader in touchdown catches (28) and ranks second in school history in catches (171) and third in receiving yards (2,539). He decided to forgo the NFL and come back to school for one more season. Kelly says Floyd has made progress toward "modifying his behavior ... However, Michael still has steps to take before he can be considered for reinstatement to our football team." Source: ESPN

05/24/11 - If Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd is reinstated from his suspension, he won't miss any games this fall. “We’re looking at Mike as an ‘all in or not’ situation,” coach Brian Kelly told the South Bend Tribune. “In other words, he’s changing his life or he’s not. If he changes the way he’s lived his life, he’ll play every game for us. If he doesn’t, he won’t play one down here at Notre Dame." If Floyd does return and stays healthy, he’s expected to put up bigger numbers than he did in 2010 (79 receptions, 1,025 yards and 12 TDs) and affix his name to virtually every Irish career receiving record. If Floyd doesn’t meet Kelly’s criteria, ND’s offense will be more tight end-oriented in 2011 with more multiple-tight end sets. Floyd had been strongly considering jumping into the NFL Draft Pool a year early, after the 2010 season, but he had an 11th-hour change of heart in January and decided to return for his senior season. Kelly originally named Floyd and safety Harrison Smith captains for 2011, but Floyd was stripped of his title following the arrest. Source: South Bend Tribune

05/22/11 - If Floyd slips to the third round, and ends up on a team that can use his talents and has a strong locker room, the situation could get scary for the rest of the NFL. A team like the Jets or the Patriots could do wonders with a receiver like Floyd. He could be the next Mike Williams, or possibly even a better prospect. It is not every day that someone who is 6 foot 3 and 227 pounds has the football acumen and quick-twitch ability of Floyd, and I hope that some teams rolls the dice on him next April. Source: News.WBRU.com

04/09/11 - Notre Dame wide receiver Michael Floyd will remain in school and play football this season, his mother, Theresa Romero, said late Friday. Romero said Floyd told her Friday afternoon that Notre Dame's Office of Residence Life, the school's disciplinary arm, rendered a decision on his future at the school that was positive and he'll be able to stay by fulfilling certain obligations. The Office of Residence Life could have suspended Floyd for a semester. "Michael feels blessed for the opportunity," Romero said. Floyd echoed her thoughts in a statement. "I've met with the Office of Residence Life and, while I don't plan to discuss the details, I'm grateful that I still have a chance to earn my degree from Notre Dame and be a member of the football team," Floyd said. "I know that I still need to meet requirements set by the university and Coach Kelly, and that I have a lot of work to do that and to prove that I've grown from this experience. I'm sorry again for the poor decisions I've made and for letting so many people down." Floyd was suspended by coach Brian Kelly March 21 after being cited for drunken driving, with authorities saying his blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit. He still is scheduled for a court date May 2. Source: ESPN

12/08/10 - Standout junior tight end Kyle Rudolph and wide receiver Michael Floyd have asked to be evaluated by the NFL Draft Advisory Board, according to an ESPN report. Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly acknowledged the report the report. "We are heavily recruiting them," Kelly said. "We are recruiting them for Notre Dame." Rudolph who missed most of the season with a torn hamstring injury, is viewed as a round one/round two-type prospect. Floyd, who saw his production drop off with the departure of Jimmy Clausen this season, is currently ranked as the No. 4 wide receiver prospect in the country, according to the NFL Draft Bible, which includes eligible underclassmen.

01/12/10 - Notre Dame sophomore WR Michael Floyd, a leading prospect for the 2011 draft, was cited for underage consumption of alcohol earlier this month after an altercation at a house party in Minneapolis. Floyd wasn‘t arrested, but was cited for underage consumption of liquor, a misdemeanor.

SCHOOL BIO

CAREER: One of top wide receivers in college football ... has totaled 92 receptions for 1,514 yards and 16 touchdowns while starting 17 of 18 games played in an Irish uniform ... has averaged 84.1 receiving yards per game for his career, tops among all active players in the Football Bowl Subdivision ... recorded nine 100-yard receiving games in his career, tied for third in Notre Dame history ... 16 TD receptions is tied for seventh all-time for the Irish ... averaged 5.1 receptions per game over his career, good for fourth among all FBS players ... set freshman records at Notre Dame for receptions, receiving yards and receiving TDs ... became fourth Irish freshman in last 20 years to score TD on first career catch, joining Raghib "Rocket" Ismail and Derek Brown in 1988 and Derrick Mayes in 1992.

2009 (SOPHOMORE): Played and started in seven games (did not play against Purdue, Washington, USC, Boston College and Washington State due to injury) ... ranked second on team with 44 catches for 795 yards and nine touchdowns ... set career highs in receiving yards and receiving TDs ... surpassed 100 yards receiving in a game on five occasions, tied for fourth most in a season by a Notre Dame player ... joined Golden Tate as only two Irish players since Derrick Mayes in 1995 to post three consecutive 100-yard receiving games ... opened season catching four passes for 189 yards and three TDs vs. Nevada, marking second-best single-game total by an Irish sophomore receiver in school history (Jim Seymour, 276 yards against Purdue in 1966) ... 189 receiving yards marked eighth-most yards at the time (since moved to ninth best) ... set school record for highest yards per reception average in a game by averaging 47.3 yards per catch against Nevada ... became first Irish player to record two receptions of at least 70 yards in same game as he accomplished that feat against Wolf Pack ... established career best with 88-yard TD reception against Nevada, third longest reception in Irish history ... snagged seven catches for 131 yards and a TD following week against Michigan ... his 131 yards were most against Wolverines by an Irish player in history of rivalry ... 320 receiving yards through first two games were most over any two-game span since Tim Brown registered 360 yards in consecutive games during 1986 season ... recorded two catches for 38 yards and a TD against Michigan State before suffering shoulder injury ... returned to lineup against Navy, grabbing career-high-tying 10 passes for 141 yards and a TD ... the 10 receptions are most ever for an Irish receiver in series against Navy ... had seven catches for 107 yards against Pittsburgh ... against Connecticut hauled in eight catches for 104 yards and a TD ... wrapped up season with six catches for 85 yards and two TDs against Stanford.

2008 (FRESHMAN): Played in 11 of Notre Dame's 13 games on the year, only missing the final two games of the regular season (Syracuse and USC) due to an injury sustained early (third play of the game) against Navy ... recorded seven touchdown receptions on the year, breaking the record for an Irish rookie (previously held by teammate Duval Kamara's four TDs in 2007) ... also caught 48 balls to break another Notre Dame freshman record in receptions (Kamara had 32 in 2007) ... his 719 receiving yards set the mark for Notre Dame first-year players (Tony Hunter had 690 in 1979) ... with four 100-yard receiving games during the season, moved into fourth place on the school's single-season receiving list in that category and ranks ninth all-time at Notre Dame for 100-yard receiving games in a career... registered one catch for 22 yards and a TD during his career debut vs. San Diego State... his first career reception went for a TD (22-yard reception late in the first half) and made him the first freshman to ever record a TD reception in a season opener ... also the first freshman to ever score Notre Dame's first points to open a season by TD ... his first career TD made him only the fourth Irish receiver in the last 20 years whose first career catch was a TD (Raghib "Rocket" Ismail and Derek Brown in 1988 and Derrick Mayes in 1992) ... started his first career game in week two vs. Michigan ... had a breakout game against Michigan State, recording then career-highs in catches (seven), yards (86) and longest catch (26 yards) while recording his second TD of the season ... recorded six catches for 100 yards vs. Purdue ... had five catches for 93 yards in the first half alone against the Boilermakers ... finished the contest with six catches for 100 yards, making him only the second Irish freshman to have at least 100 receiving yards since Derrick Mayes in 1992 against Pittsburgh (Golden Tate had 104 yards vs. Purdue in 2007) ... against Stanford, he became the first freshman since Joe Howard in 1981 to record consecutive games of 100-plus yards receiving ... set his career high in receiving yards (115) and recorded his third TD on the season on a 48-yard pass from sophomore QB Jimmy Clausen ... became the first Notre Dame wideout to eclipse 100 yards in consecutive weeks since Jeff Samardzija on Nov. 4 (North Carolina) and Nov. 11 (Air Force) of 2006 ... recorded fifth consecutive start of the season vs. North Carolina, catching six balls for 93 yards and a TD (his second consecutive game with a TD) ... went over the 100-yard mark (107) receiving for the third time in four games vs. Washington and also recorded his fifth TD reception of the campaign ... had four catches for 107 yards, including a career-long 51-yard TD reception on the third play of the game against the Huskies ... the TD catch broke the Notre Dame record for TD receptions by a freshman ... set the Irish freshman record for receptions in a game and in a season vs. Pittsburgh, hauling in 10 catches for 100 yards and two TDs ... the 10 receptions was the most by any Notre Dame receiver since Rhema McKnight had 10 receptions against Army in 2006 ... managed to catch five balls for 69 yards against a tough Boston College secondary ... caught two passes for 17 yards vs. Hawai'i , including a 15-yard grab in his first game action in nearly three games ... logged 237:27 minutes and one special-teams appearance.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Picked to play in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio ... chosen Gatorade Player of the Year for Minnesota as a junior and senior ... named Minnesota Player of the Year as a junior and senior by the Associated Press ... named first-team All-American by USA Today following his senior season ... placed on Parade All-America team as one of the 58 best players in the country and one of four all-purpose players ... one of 30 players named to the EA Sports All-America first team ... named a second-team All-American by Scout.com ... earned first-team all-state accolades from the Minnesota Associated Press as a junior and senior ... recipient of 2007 Minnesota Mr. Football award ... named the state's Player of the Year by St. Paul Pioneer Press ... ranked the top wide receiver and the third-best player on the Detroit Free Press Best of the Midwest Top 20 list ... rated the 15th-best player in the nation by Tom Lemming and CSTV ... Scout.com ranked him as the 16th-best prospect in the country ... touted as the 27th-best player in the country by Rivals.com ... ranked No. 28 by Sports Illustrated/TAKKLE.com ... rated the 29th-best player on the ESPN 150 list ... labeled by Scout.com as the top player in Minnesota and the fifth-best wide receiver in the country ... Rivals.com considered him the top player in Minnesota and sixth-best wide receiver in the nation ... recorded 59 receptions for 1,247 yards (21.1 avg.) and 17 TDs as a senior and added 497 rushing yards on 43 carries (11.6 avg.) ... returned 16 punts for 373 yards (23.3 avg.) and four touchdowns ... helped lead his high school team to a 13-1 record and appearance in the state championship game ... averaged 23.5 points per game as a senior for his high school basketball team ... tabbed high school athlete of the year for the St. Paul, Minn. area by the St. Paul Pioneer Press ... scored at least 30 points in six basketball games as a senior ... totaled 1,380 points in his basketball career, finishing just 86 points of school record for most career points ... named to Rivals.com junior All-America second team ... caught 63 passes for 1,240 yards and 16 TDs during junior year ... active in the community and is a member of two groups, PRIDE (People Respecting Identity Diversity & Equity) and CHOICE (Choosing to Help Others In a Chemically Free Existence) ... attended the same high school as former Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke, American League batting champion Joe Mauer and former Irish football players Ryan Harris and Marcus Freeman ... played for coach Mike Scanlan at Cretin-Derham ... born Nov. 27, 1989 ... son of Mike Floyd Sr. and Theresa Romero ... enrolled in College of Arts and Letters, majoring in sociology.