Playing in the NFL has long seemed like a realistic possibility for defensive lineman Rylie Mills.
The former Lake Forest standout‘s five-year Notre Dame career, which included the past two seasons as a highly productive starter, only brought him closer. But Mills suffered a torn ACL in his right knee during the Fighting Irish’s College Football Playoff win over Indiana on Dec. 20.
“I knew something was wrong, but I wanted somehow to return to the game,” he said. “I tried a couple of times, but they wouldn’t let me. I thought at first I’d be back for the playoffs, but that obviously didn’t happen. It certainly wasn’t how I wanted to end my college career.”
Indeed, Mills had surgery shortly thereafter and was a spectator for the rest of the four-game playoff run, which ended with Notre Dame’s 34-23 loss to Ohio State in the national championship game.
Mills’ injury also affected his status for the NFL draft in April. He recorded a team-high 7.5 sacks to go along with 37 tackles and four quarterback hurries as a senior to earn a slew of postseason accolades, including an All-American second-team selection, and generate positive draft buzz.
But given Mills’ uncertain return date and his inability to work out at the combine or any pro days, he lasted until the fifth round, when the Seattle Seahawks grabbed him with the 142nd overall pick.
“The feedback I was getting before I got hurt was that my draft status was going higher,” he said. “It was tough at the combine for scouts to tell me that they love my tape.
“Seattle was a great place to land, though. They have a great foundation. The staff is amazing. I’m just taking it day by day.”
Notre Dame defensive lineman Rylie Mills celebrates a sack during a game against Georgia Tech in Atlanta on Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024. (Mike Stewart / AP)
With NFL preseason action underway, the 6-foot-5, 290-pounds Mills remains on the non-football injury list. But he has graduated to individual running drills on grass and has been able to take in every aspect of the mental preparation that is so essential in making a successful jump from college to the NFL.
“We have a lot of experience on the defensive line, so I lean on them to gain as much knowledge as possible,” Mills said, highlighting 10-year NFL veteran Leonard Williams. “In meetings, we talk all the time about what everyone’s seeing from the offense, and I pick up new things all the time from watching and listening.”
Mills is also seeing the high-stakes nature of the NFL and how much pressure exists on players to produce. That was evident to some extent in college, but this is a different ballgame, both literally and figuratively.
“It’s a real job, which makes a huge difference, and you’re trying to be one of the best in the world,” Mills said. “Every day I try to take in how special it is to have this opportunity and make sure I put in all the work necessary to make a positive impression.”
Lake Forest coach Chuck Spagnoli wouldn’t be surprised if Mills, who finished his Notre Dame career with 17 sacks, makes a position impression in Seattle.
“When I talked to people at Notre Dame, they were always glowing about him, and he was always getting more productive,” Spagnoli said. “We always hoped he’d have this kind of opportunity, but he created it himself. Hopefully he’ll develop into a great NFL player.”
Mills has certainly learned to adapt to the realities of his knee injury. Although he couldn’t lead Notre Dame to a national championship on the field, that didn’t mean his tenure as an influential team captain was finished.
“Coach (Marcus) Freeman said I could handle this adversity in one of two ways,” Mills said. “I could do anything I could to be as useful as possible, or I could dwell on things. I’m glad I chose the more positive mindset.”
Rob Dicker / Chicago Tribune
Lake Forest’s Rylie Mills communicates with coaches on the sidelines during a North Suburban Conference game against Stevenson on Friday, Oct. 25, 2019. (Rob Dicker / News-Sun)
Due to the timing of his surgery, Mills couldn’t attend Notre Dame’s 23-10 win over Georgia in the quarterfinals on Jan. 2. But he was bound and determined to get to the semifinal game against Penn State in suburban Miami seven days later.
Mills couldn’t fly, so a Notre Dame fundraising agency called Rally proposed a unique travel arrangement.
“They got me an NIL deal with an RV company, and we drove down to Florida,” Mills said. “It was my parents, girlfriend, the dog — and my uncle drove. It was pretty close quarters there and back for about 40 hours.”
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.