Blue & Gold Illustrated: 2012 Notre Dame Football Preview
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/531612
144 ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2015 FOOTBALL PREVIEW Name (Years At Notre Dame) NFL Season Pos. Current Team George Atkinson (2011-13) 2nd RB Oakland Raiders Returned seven kickoffs for an average of 19.1 yards while playing in five games. Robert Blanton (2008-11) 4th DB Minnesota Vikings Played in 15 games and started 13 while recording 106 tackles and one interception. Kyle Brindza (2001-14) 1st K/P Detroit Lions The Michigan native went undrafted before signing with the Lions. Sergio Brown (2006-09) 6th S Jacksonville Jaguars Joined the Jaguars after recording 33 tackles in 15 games with the Colts last year. David Bruton (2005-08) 7th S Denver Broncos Recorded four tackles in 14 games as a special teams mainstay. Braxston Cave (2008-12) 3rd OL Detroit Lions Has bounced between multiple NFL franchises, most recently with the Lions. Jimmy Clausen (2007-09) 6th QB Chicago Bears Played in four games with one start, and notched two touchdowns and one interception. DaVaris Daniels (2011-14) 1st WR Minnesota Vikings Went undrafted before signing with the Vikings. Tyler Eifert (2009-12) 3rd TE Cincinnati Bengals Played in one game before suffering a season-ending elbow injury. Anthony Fasano (2002-05) 10th TE Tennessee Titans Caught 25 passes for 226 yards and four touchdowns with Kansas City in 2014. Darius Fleming (2008-11) 4th LB New England Patriots Played in five games and recorded six tackles for the Super Bowl champions. Michael Floyd (2008-11) 4th WR Arizona Cardinals Caught 47 passes for 841 yards and six touchdowns in his third NFL season. Mike Golic Jr. (2008-12) 3rd OL New Orleans Saints Is back in New Orleans for his second stint with the Saints. Jonas Gray (2008-11) 4th RB New England Patriots Rushed for 412 yards and five touchdowns in eight games for the Super Bowl champions. Ryan Harris (2003-06) 9th OT Denver Broncos Signed with Denver to provide tackle depth after a season-ending injury to Ryan Clady. Robert Hughes (2007-10) 6th RB Arizona Cardinals Rushed seven times for 11 yards and caught eight passes for 140 yards in 16 games. Bennett Jackson (2010-13) 2nd DB New York Giants Spent most of the 2014 season on the practice squad injured reserve. J.J. Jansen (2004-07) 8th LS Carolina Panthers Played in all 16 games for the sixth consecutive season. TJ Jones (2010-13) 2nd WR Detroit Lions Missed most of 2014 with a shoulder injury. Ben Koyack (2011-14) 1st TE Jacksonville Jaguars Drafted 229th overall in the 2015 NFL Draft, representing Notre Dame's only selection. Name (Years At Notre Dame) NFL Season Pos. Current Team Kapron Lewis-Moore (2008-12) 3rd DE Baltimore Ravens Missed the 2014 season while recovering from a torn Achilles. Zack Martin (2009-13) 2nd OL Dallas Cowboys Enjoyed an excellent rookie campaign while blocking for the No. 2 rushing attack. Troy Niklas (2011-13) 2nd TE Arizona Cardinals Caught three passes for 38 yards in seven games. Louis Nix (2010-13) 2nd DL Houston Texans Missed all of 2014 due to injuries. Eric Olsen (2006-09) 6th OL Cleveland Browns Will spend this season with a new team for the fifth time in six years. Theo Riddick (2009-12) 3rd RB Detroit Lions Caught four touchdown passes and played in 14 games. Cody Riggs (2014) 1st CB Tennessee Titans Went undrafted and signed with the Titans. Trevor Robinson (2008-11) 4th OG San Diego Chargers Played in three games and started one for the Chargers. Kyle Rudolph (2008-10) 5th TE Minnesota Vikings Injuries limited him to nine games and two touchdowns. Harrison Smith (2007-11) 4th S Minnesota Vikings Recorded 92 tackles and five interceptions in 16 starts. John Sullivan (2003-07) 8th C Minnesota Vikings Has started every game but three the past six seasons in Minnesota. Golden Tate (2007-09) 6th WR Detroit Lions Caught 99 passes for 1,331 yards and four touchdowns in his first year in Detroit. Manti Te'o (2009-12) 3rd LB San Diego Chargers Recorded 60 tackles in a season shortened to 10 games due to injuries. Justin Tuck (2001-04) 11th DE Oakland Raiders Recorded 43 tackles and five sacks in 15 games (12 starts). Stephon Tuitt (2011-13) 2nd DE Pittsburgh Steelers Notched 17 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble in 16 games. Darrin Walls (2006-10) 5th CB New York Jets Played in 14 games and recorded 40 tackles and two interceptions. Chris Watt (2009-13) 2nd OL San Diego Chargers Played in 12 games and started five at center. Ian Williams (2007-10) 5th DT San Francisco 49ers Recorded 22 tackles in nine games. Sam Young (2006-09) 6th OT Jacksonville Jaguars Saw action in nine games and started six. Irish In The NFL TOP FIVE PLAYERS 1. Golden Tate — It didn't take Tate any time to adjust to a new organization. Months after helping the Seattle Seahawks earn a Super Bowl victory, Tate had the best season (99 catches for 1,331 yards and four TD) of his NFL career with the pass-happy Detroit Lions in 2014. He is the perfect threat opposite of Calvin Johnson, and defenses struggled to cover both last season. 2. Harrison Smith — Smith, who made 93 tackles in 2014, continues to impress in his NFL career after rapidly improving during his time with the Irish. In 2013, players began calling Smith the NFL's hardest hitter, but it's not only strength and toughness he brings to the table. He has developed into one of the league's top defensive playmakers, having recorded 10 interceptions and three touchdowns the past three seasons. 3. John Sullivan — It's no secret that offensive linemen rarely get the recognition they deserve, but Sullivan is a rare stabilizing force on a Minnesota Vikings team that has struggled in recent seasons. In only two of his seven NFL seasons has he missed a game due to injury, and he's been an important blocker for running back Adrian Peterson during that time. 4. Zack Martin — It might seem premature to place someone with only one year of NFL experience on this list, but Martin certainly earned it during his rookie campaign. Cowboys fans, who were tempted by the prospect of drafting quarterback Johnny Manziel in 2014 are grateful to have Martin on the squad. 5. Michael Floyd — Floyd took a step back in his third NFL season, but still produced strong numbers — 47 receptions for 841 yards and six touchdowns. A monster season is on the horizon, and it could very well come in 2015. In his first season with the Lions, wide receiver Golden Tate hauled in 99 receptions for 1,331 yards and four scores. PHOTO COURTESY DETROIT LIONS