When coming up with this list I did my very best to only consider their collegiate careers because what they did in the NFL should be irrelevant,
especially when there are players currently in the NFL who have yet to write their career story.
1.) The Rocket, Receiver, 1988-1990 This man is the reason a kid from Southern California, with no ties to the school, fell in love with Notre Dame at all.
He was the guy everyone feared and everybody wanted. They called him exclusively by his nickname, “Here comes the Rocket…“, “From the nine, here he comes, Rocket…
When coming up with this list I did my very best to only consider their collegiate careers because what they did in the NFL should be irrelevant,
2.) Tony Rice, Quarterback, 1986-1989 Another rule breaker, I’m not sure Rice would have started for Charlie Weis,
Rice on the field was phenomenal and was the catalyst for a national title team in 1988 and the runner up in 1989.
3.) Aaron Taylor, Offensive Lineman, 1990-1993 The best and most decorated offensive lineman of the last 30 years during an era from 1988-1996 when all Notre Dame wanted to do was run the ball.
4.) Tim Brown, Receiver, 1984-1987 So this one is hard for me because I didn’t actually see him play and I know the least about the college football
landscape than when everyone else on this list played. I feel like he should be higher,
5.) Manti Te’o, Linebacker, 2009-2012 Te’o was on his way to having a Jaylon Smith type of career heading into 2012.
He was accumulating tons of tackles–320 through three seasons–but not doing anything that would blow your mind.
6.) Chris Zorich, Nose Tackle, 1987-1990 It’s actually very simple, the guy was an All-American every year he stepped on the field for Notre Dame,
was the UPI Lineman of the Year in 1989 and won the Lombardi Award as the nations top lineman in 1990.
7.) Autry Denson, Running Back, 1995-1998 So here’s the thing: I’m not totally sure Denson starts for every team in the last 30 years and that breaks one of my rules.
8.) Jeff Burris, Safety, 1990-1993 Started as both a corner and a safety for Notre Dame and was also featured as a running
9.) Zack Martin, Offensive Line, 2009-2013 Martin redshirted in 2009 and after that he started all the games. No, literally,
he started 52 out of 52 games for Notre Dame from 2010-2013.
10.) Jaylon Smith, Linebacker, 2013-2015 The most physically talented player on this list and easily could have been #1.
He had the misfortune of joining around the time Notre Dame