Notre Dame Wide Receiver Drafted by Pittsburgh Steelers

Mike Loftus is the president of the Elmhurst, IL-based MLE Merchandising & Sign Solutions, which provides interior and exterior signage production and installation to businesses throughout Chicago and beyond. He founded MLE in 2002, and has since expanded it to employ more than 100 people in 14 states. Outside of his professional endeavors, Mike Loftus is a fan of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.

Notre Dame’s leading receiver in 2019, Chase Claypool will suit up for the National Football League’s (NFL) Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020. The Canadian was selected by the Steelers with the 49th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft after recording 66 receptions for 1,037 yards in 2019. He also scored a team-leading 13 touchdowns. No other Fighting Irish player had more than 515 yards receiving and six touchdowns. Claypool was particularly impressive in Notre Dame’s Camping World Bowl victory over Iowa State, as he caught seven passes for 146 yards and was named the game’s MVP.

Claypool ranked second on the team in receptions and receiving yards in both his junior and sophomore seasons. He primarily played special teams as a freshman, but did manage six receptions for 81 yards. He previously played at Abbotsford Senior Secondary in British Columbia, where he led his team to a championship in 2015. The 238-pound receiver recorded a time of 4.42 seconds in the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine. Former Detroit Lions standout receiver Calvin Johnson is the only player of similar size to have achieved a 40-yard time of less than 4.45 seconds.