Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com SEPT. 30, 2019 51 IRISH IN THE PROS BY ANDREW MENTOCK N ine-figure NFL contracts are gener- ally reserved for starting quarter- backs and a few top-tier pass rushers. But given the significance and finan- cial value of starting signal-callers, it's becoming even important to protect them, which has given way to some substantial contracts for offensive line- men. While none are currently on the same team now, members of the 2015 Notre Dame offensive line have done very well for themselves in the pros. "That 2015 offensive line, they should have bought this building twice," Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said during his weekly radio show, ref- erencing the new 111,400-square-foot Irish Indoor Athletics Facility. The four members of that offensive line who chose an NFL career — Nick Martin, Ronnie Stanley, Mike Mc- Glinchey and Quenton Nelson — have already combined to accumulate more than $111 million in the total value of their current and past contracts plus signing bonuses. That group crossed the $100 million mark in mid-September when Martin, a center for the Houston Texans, signed a three-year, $33 million deal. Martin is now the second-highest paid center in the NFL, behind Mitch Morse of the Buffalo Bills. The Baltimore Ravens picked up Stanley's fifth-year option in the spring, which will pay him nearly $13 million in 2020. After that, it's expected that the Ravens will either use a franchise tag on him or sign him to a long-term deal. Nelson, who was the No. 6 overall pick by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2018 NFL Draft, is considered the best young offensive guard in the league and made the Pro Bowl as a rookie. Based on his rookie contract and sign- ing bonuses, he's guaranteed $23.9 million over the first four years in the NFL. His career trajectory is on a simi- lar path to that of former Irish player Zack Martin, who is in the first season of a six-year, $84 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys. McGlinchey, the No. 9 overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers in the same draft as Nelson, looks like he will have a long NFL career. Based on his rookie contract and signing bonuses, the 49ers' right tackle is guaranteed $18.3 million over his first four years in the NFL. The fifth starting member of the 2015 offensive line, Steve Elmer, decided to forgo his final year of eligibility af- ter starting 30 games for the Irish and picked a career as a consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton in Washington, D.C. While the success of the 2015 offen- sive line is the highlight of that Notre Dame team, a large portion of the ros- ter is doing well in the pros. "Including the practice squad, the media knows this, 25 players from the 2015 team are on NFL rosters," Kelly said. "That's amazing. That's like 23 percent of the roster." Other notable NFL players from the 2015 Notre Dame team include Romeo Okwara, who signed a two-year, $6.8 million contract with the Detroit Lions; Will Fuller, who is still in the middle of a four-year, $10.1 million deal with the Texans; and Jaylon Smith, who recently inked a six-year, $68.4 million contract with the Dallas Cowboys. IRISH DOMINATE WNBA ALL-ROOKIE TEAM Unlike NBA rookies, who get an entire offseason to prepare for their professional debuts, WNBA draftees are thrust into training camp almost immediately. The 2019 WNBA Draft occurred April 15, eight days after the NCAA women's championship game. Training camp began May 5 and pre- season games started May 9. Such little time for rest seems like it could put a damper on former Notre Dame players, who lost an 82-81 nail- biter to Baylor in the national cham- pionship game. Instead, three of the five All-Rookie slots went to former Irish players Arike Ogunbowale, Jackie Young and Brianna Turner. Ogunbowale and Young received the maximum number of votes to make the team (11), while Turner received seven. In her first season with the Dallas Wings, Ogunbowale finished third in scoring in the WNBA with 19.1 points per game and tallied at least 20 points in 13 of her last 14 games. She led all rookies in three-pointers made with 57, and was second in assists (3.2 per game) and steals (1.06 per game). Taken as the No. 1 overall pick in the draft by the Las Vegas Aces, Young averaged 6.6 points, 4.5 assists (ninth in the WNBA and a rookie high) and 3.3 rebounds per game. For the Phoenix Mercury, Turner ranked third among rookies in re- bounding with 4.1 boards per game and set a Mercury-rookie record by grabbing 14 rebounds in a single game. ✦ 2015 Notre Dame Offensive Line Hits Financial Milestone Second-year guard Quenton Nelson, already con- sidered an All-Pro-level player, is one of numer- ous members from the 2015 Notre Dame roster, especially along the offensive line, to achieve a financial windfall in the NFL. PHOTO COURTESY INDIANAPOLIS COLTS NOTRE DAME IN THE NFL: Week Two Highlights • TJ Jones (2010-13), WR New York Giants: Was released by New York at the end of pre- season, but re-signed with the franchise Sept. 11 … In his first game back, he had a 60-yard punt return plus hauled in three receptions for 38 yards and a touchdown in a 28-14 loss to the Buffalo Bills. • Tyler Eifert (2009-12), TE, Cincinnati Ben- gals: Still getting back up to speed following a gruesome broken leg that ended his 2018 cam- paign, but he reeled in three receptions for nine yards and a touchdown in a 41-17 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. • Jaylon Smith (2013-15), LB, Dallas Cowboys: Led the Cowboys in tackles with 11 in a 31-21 road win against the Washington Redskins.