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irish in the nfl "It is coming along well. As long as I keep doing what I'm doing, hopefully I'll have put myself in a good position." Riddick has picked up plenty from the years of experience surrounding him in the meeting room and on the practice field. Though the large group of running backs is competing for jobs, tips are passed out freely. "Some are closer than others, but I think we're all pretty close, from Reggie to Le- shoure to Joique — those are the vets that really help us out a lot. We all try to help each other in all areas," Riddick added. "It's team first. That's what is very evident with the Lions, regardless if you're a rookie or a vet." Riddick likens Motown to New Jersey, where professional sports and the outcomes of those teams are taken very seriously. "I've seen a couple fans with a Lions logo tattooed on their body," he said. "That symbolizes something. It's very similar to Jersey … very hardcore fans and they enjoy their sports. It's been a great experience so far." And he's not taking the experience for granted. "Things happen so fast. People go and people come," Riddick said. "You have to take a second personally to acknowledge your achievements. "You've also got to realize that there are guys out there that are hungry because they didn't get drafted." ✦ notre dame players In The NFL Name (Years At Notre Dame) NFL Season Pos. Current Team Armando Allen (2007-10) 3rd RB Chicago Bears Rushed 27 times for 124 yards and a TD, and caught two passes for 16 yards in 15 games last season. Jordan Black (1998-2001) 10th OT Free Agent Came out of retirement after sitting out 2011 and played in 14 games as a reserve for the Washington Redskins in 2012. Was an unrestricted free agent as of mid-June. Robert Blanton (2008-11) 2nd S Minnesota Vikings Made 14 tackles in 14 games as a reserve and special teams contributor last year. Sergio Brown (2006-09) 5th S Indianapolis Colts Recorded 12 tackles and a pass defense in 17 games as a reserve in 2012. David Bruton (2005-08) 5th S Denver Broncos The backup safety had five solo tackles and an interception in 17 contests last season. John Carlson (2003-07) 6th TE Minnesota Vikings Last year, appeared in 14 games (six starts) and caught eight passes for 43 yards. Braxston Cave (2008-12) 1st C Cleveland Browns Signed a free-agent contract with Cleveland after going undrafted. Jimmy Clausen (2007-09) 4th QB Carolina Panthers Has not played since 2010, while serving as Cam Newton's backup the past two seasons. Tyler Eifert (2009-12) 1st TE Cincinnati Bengals Drafted 21st overall in the first round. Jeff Faine (1999-2002) 11th C Free Agent Started seven of eight games for Cincinnati before being let go. Anthony Fasano (2002-05) 8th TE Kansas City Chiefs Started 16 games for Miami, and caught 41 passes for 332 yards and five touchdowns in 2012. Darius Fleming (2008-11) 2nd LB San Francisco 49ers Missed entire rookie year while rehabilitating a knee injury suffered at the 49ers' rookie mini-camp in May. Michael Floyd (2008-11) 2nd WR Arizona Cardinals Had 45 receptions for 562 yards and two touchdowns as a rookie in 2012. Mike Golic Jr. (2008-12) 1st OG Pittsburgh Steelers Went undrafted and signed a free-agent contract with the Steelers April 27. Ryan Grant (2001-04) 8th RB Free Agent Appeared in one game for Kansas City and four for Green Bay last year, and finished with 132 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Jonas Gray (2008-11) 2nd RB Miami Dolphins Missed all of 2012 while recovering from a knee injury suffered late in senior year at ND. Ryan Harris (2003-06) 6th OT Houston Texans Played in all 16 regular-season games (two starts) and two playoff contests in his first season with the Texans last year. Robert Hughes (2007-10) 3rd RB Free Agent In five appearances for Indianapolis last year, he rushed once for five yards and caught one pass for three yards. J.J. Jansen (2004-07) 6th LS Carolina Panthers Appeared in 16 games for the fourth consecutive season. Derek Landri (2002-05) 7th DT Tampa Bay Buccaneers Started seven of 16 games for Philadelphia and made 18 tackles in 2012. Trevor Laws (2003-07) 6th DT Free Agent Missed all of 2012 with a knee injury after signing with the St. Louis Rams. Name (Years At Notre Dame) NFL Season Pos. Current Team Kapron Lewis-Moore (2008-12) 1st DE Baltimore Ravens Drafted in the sixth round (200th overall) after suffering a knee injury in the BCS National Championship Game, and he's expected to sit out his rookie season. Kyle McCarthy (2005-09) 4th S Free Agent Missed all of 2012 for Kansas City with a knee injury. Zeke Motta (2009-12) 1st S Atlanta Falcons Drafted in the seventh round (244th overall). Eric Olsen (2006-09) 4th OG New Orleans Saints Started four of 16 games for the Saints last year. Brady Quinn (2003-06) 7th QB Seattle Seahawks Started eight games and played in two others for Kansas City last season, and threw for 1,141 yards with two touchdowns and eight interceptions. Theo Riddick (2009-12) 1st RB Detroit Lions Drafted in the sixth round (199th overall). Trevor Robinson (2008-11) 2nd C Cincinnati Bengals Played in 13 games and started seven times at center as an undrafted free-agent rookie in 2012. Kyle Rudolph (2008-10) 3rd TE Minnesota Vikings Caught 53 passes for 493 yards and nine touchdowns in 16 starts en route to the Pro Bowl. Jamoris Slaughter (2008-12) 1st S Cleveland Browns Drafted in the sixth round (175 overall). Brian Smith (2007-10) 3rd LB Buffalo Bills Spent the tail end of the 2012 season on the Bills' practice squad. Harrison Smith (2007-11) 2nd S Minnesota Vikings Registered 104 tackles, a sack and three interceptions (two for scores) in 16 starts as a rookie, and earned a spot in the Pro Bowl last season. John Sullivan (2003-07) 6th C Minnesota Vikings Started all 16 regular-season games and one playoff contest for the Vikings in 2012. Golden Tate (2007-09) 4th WR Seattle Seahawks Started 15 regular-season games last year, and caught 45 passes for 688 yards and seven touchdowns. Manti Te'o (2009-12) 1st LB San Diego Chargers Drafted in the second round (38th overall). Justin Tuck (2001-04) 9th DE New York Giants Last year, started 14 of 15 games and registered 45 tackles and four sacks. Darrin Walls (2006-10) 3rd CB New York Jets Played in six games, made one start, and tallied two tackles and one pass defended for the Jets last season. Ian Williams (2007-10) 3rd DT San Francisco 49ers Played in three games and notched three tackles in 2012. Cierre Wood (2009-12) 1st RB Houston Texans Went undrafted and signed a free agent deal with Houston April 27. Sam Young (2006-09) 4th OT Buffalo Bills Started four of 12 games for the Bills last season. Tom Zbikowski (2003-07) 6th S Chicago Bears Compiled 38 tackles, one sack and one pick in 11 games for Indianapolis last year. Blue & Gold Illustrated 2013 Football Preview ✦ 137 136-139.Irish In The NFL.indd 137 6/25/13 2:37 PM