Notre Dame DL Jerry Tillery Undergoes Surgery

Notre Dame defensive lineman and NFL draft prospect Jerry Tillery underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum and will be sidelined for three-to-four months, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (Twitter link).

Given his recovery timeline, Tillery should be ready for training camp, so it’s unclear just how much this news will affect his draft stock. Still, in a draft loaded with defensive line talent, it’s fair to wonder if Tillery’s operation will push him ever so slightly down draft boards.

Tillery, who stands 6’7″, 305 pounds, just wrapped up his Notre Dame career after appearing in 42 games during a four-year run. Last season, he posted seven sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss in 12 contests. Most draft rankings have Tillery as a borderline first-round pick, but his stock had been rising after an excellent combine. Notably, Tillery ranked first among draft-eligible defensive linemen in SPARQ score, a measurement of overall athleticism.

In his scouting report on Tillery, Lance Zierlein of NFL.com compared the Notre Dame product to the Steelers’ Stephon Tuitt, noting the former’s “scary natural power.” Joe Marino of The Draft Network is also a fan of Tillery, but noted he must improve his leverage.

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