Kyle Rudolph in NFL Draft despite missing season

According to a report on the Notre Dame Rivals.com site, Irish junior tight end Kyle Rudolph will enter the 2011 NFL Draft.

Rudolph missed the entire most of the 2010 season recovering from a torn hamstring. He played in nine games in 2009 before requiring shoulder surgery. To say the least, Rudolph's draft stock may depend on how teams view him medically.

Missing an entire season didn't hurt Oklahoma's Jermaine Gresham. After missing the 2009 season, Cincinnati still used the 21st overall pick on him.

As a sophomore, Rudolph had 33 receptions for 364 yards and three touchdowns. As a freshman, he had 29 receptions for 340 yards and two touchdowns.

Rudolph has excellent size at 6-foot-6 and 265 pounds. Rudolph isn't quite the prospect Gresham was and will need to look good in private workouts and at Notre Dame's pro day. He projects as a second-round pick.