Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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it's hard to say how much he would have played at Notre Dame with both Rudolph and Tyler Eifert in the mix … Did not get drafted by an NFL team. Steve Filer • LB Dolton, Ill. (Mount Carmel) Prep Ranking: Considered a four-star player and the No. 3 overall prospect in Illinois by Rivals.com … Deemed a four-star recruit by Scout.com, which had him as the country's No. 4 inside linebacker and the nation's No. 72 overall player … Named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Illinois and was one of 58 players (eight linebackers) chosen to the Parade All-America team … Played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Career Summary: Appeared in almost every game, but never started and an ACL injury in November of his senior year ended his football career … Led the Fighting Irish in special teams appearances as a sophomore (213) and junior (270), and his 11 tackles both years paced special teams … Finished with 37 career tackles and also saw action in pass-rushing situations. Final Analysis: Was a four-year mainstay on special teams, but it was a little surprising that someone with his athletic skills and accolades never started on defense. Darius Fleming • OLB Chicago (St. Rita) Prep Ranking: Evaluated as a four-star prospect, the No. 2 player in Illinois and the No. 72 overall recruit in the country by Rivals.com … Rated as a four-star athlete by Scout.com, which had him ranked No. 2 in the nation among outside linebacker prospects and as the No. 56 overall player in the country … Played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Career Summary: Appeared in all 13 games as a freshman, starting three, and recorded 24 tackles … Improved his starts to seven as a sophomore while also lining up at defensive end in 4-3 alignments and led the team in tackles for loss with 12 (three sacks) … As a junior and senior, started all 13 games each season, pacing the team again in tackles for loss (11) and sacks (six) in 2010, and recording a career-high 55 tackles (fifth best on the team) in 2011 … Totaled 158 career stops, 32.5 tackles for loss and 15 sacks. Final Analysis: At 6-2 he didn't possess prototype height coming off the edge, but he became a workmanlike performer, improving his game each year … Was a fifth-round selection of the San Francisco 49ers in the 2012 NFL Draft, but was sidelined his entire rookie campaign after suffering an injury in the offseason. Michael Floyd • WR Saint Paul, Minn. (Cretin-Derham Hall) Prep Ranking: Rated as a five-star prospect, the No. 6 wide receiver nationally and the No. 27 overall prospect in the nation by Rivals.com … Scout.com had him as a five-star prospect, the country's No. 5 receiver and the nation's No. 16 overall recruit … Two-time Minnesota Gatorade Player of the Year … USA Today first-team AllAmerican and a Parade All-American … Starred in U.S. Army All-American Bowl with 118 yards receiving and two touchdowns for the West team. Career Summary: Made an instant impact by scoring the first touchdown in the 2008 season on his first college catch and went on to obliterate Notre Dame's freshman receiving records with 48 catches for 719 yards and seven scores … Sidelined five games as a sophomore because of a shoulder injury, but he still caught 44 passes for 795 yards and nine touchdowns … As a junior in 2010, snared 79 passes — the second most in a season at Notre Dame — for 1,025 yards and 12 touchdowns, but missed the 35-17 loss to Navy with hamstring injury … Started all 13 games his senior year and set the single-season Irish receiving standard with 100 catches for 1,147 yards and nine scores … Completed his career with 271 receptions for 3,686 yards and 37 touchdowns — all marks that rank No. 1 in Notre Dame annals. Final Analysis: Two-time Notre Dame Monogram Club MVP lived up to his billing as Notre Dame's top recruit in 2008 … Is statistically the greatest receiver ever to suit up for the Fighting Irish, and his career records might stand for a long time, even in today's pass-oriented offenses … Became the first Notre Dame wide receiver since Tim Brown in 1988 to be chosen in the first round of the NFL Draft, when the Arizona Cardinals picked him with the No. 13 selection overall in 2012 … Caught 45 passes for 562 yards and two scores as a rookie while playing in all 16 games and starting three. Mike Golic Jr. • OG/C West Hartford, Conn. (Northwest Catholic) Prep Ranking: Tabbed as a three-star recruit, the No. 4 player in Connecticut and the nation's No. 8 center by Rivals.com … Listed as a three-star player and the nation's No. 30 offensive guard by Scout.com … Played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl. Career Summary: Did not play as a freshman, appeared in three games as a sophomore center and became a special teams regular in 12 games as a junior … As a senior in 2011, replaced an injured Braxston Cave early in the Wake Forest game and started last four contests at center … With the return of Cave in 2012, he slid over to right guard, where he replaced the graduated Trevor Robinson and started all 13 games. Final Analysis: He maximized his relatively less-heralded ability to become a 13-game starter for a team that advanced to the BCS National Championship Game … He also earned plaudits off the field by making the 22-man Allstate America Football Coaches Association Good Works Team for his work in the community. John Goodman • WR Fort Wayne, Ind. (Bishop Dwenger) Prep Ranking: Rated as a three-star recruit, the No. 3 player in Indiana and the No. 51 wide receiver in the nation (although he played mainly quarterback as a senior) by Rivals.com … Touted as a four-star prospect and the No. 21 wide receiver in the country by Scout.com … Played in the U.S. Army All-American Bowl and scored on a 25-yard catch. Career Summary: Did not see action as a freshman … Caught six passes the following year, highlighted by 64-yard score in the romp over Washington State … Had active junior year, compiling a career-high 15 catches for 146 yards, throwing a 32-yard TD pass to Michael Floyd and serving as the top punt returner (13 for 17 yards) … Caught seven passes for 65 yards in 2011 and was asked back for fifth season in 2012 to provide leadership for young receiving corps … Hindered by injuries in 2012 and grabbed only seven passes again, but three of them were scores, highlighted by a sensational one-handed stab at Michigan State on the opening series … Also made crucial Class of 2008's Three Best Players 1. WR Michael Floyd — Despite a couple of injury setbacks his first two seasons and his share of off-the-field drama, Floyd shattered Notre Dame's career standards in catches (271), yards receiving (3,686) and touchdown receptions (37). Jeff Samardzija's (2003-06) 179 catches are the second most. Floyd joined 1987 Heisman Trophy winner Tim Brown as the school's only two receivers since 1970 to be selected in the first round of the NFL Draft. 2. TE Kyle Rudolph — It's easy to overlook that he turned pro after his junior year in 2010, mainly because successor Tyler Eifert blossomed into a first-round pick. Rudolph also was sidelined most of his junior year with an injury. But when he was on the field, he was productive as a receiver and blocker, finishing with 90 catches for 1,032 yards and 11 touchdowns. 3. DT Kapron Lewis-Moore and DB Robert Blanton — Both were often overshadowed and underrated contributors on the defense, but provided reliable, consistent performance. LewisMoore's 180 tackles along the defensive line and 2012 captaincy North Carolina native Robert Blanton made 26 starts in his career, including 13 at cornerback as were huge, and Blanton (193 tackles, eight interceptions and 16 passes broken up) was a stabilizing force on the back end in a senior in 2011 when he finished third on the team in tackles with 70. photo by bill panzica various roles. 150 ✦ Blue & Gold Illustrated 2013 Football Preview 148-153.Class of 2008.indd 150 6/25/13 1:40 PM