Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com OCT. 29, 2022 51 IRISH IN THE PROS BY TODD D. BURLAGE C omparatively speaking, former Irish wide receiver Chase Claypool is having a down season in his third year playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers. But in the Steelers' stunning 20‑18 upset of Tampa Bay Oct. 16, Clay‑ pool made the play of the game with a fourth‑quarter touchdown catch from veteran backup quarterback Mitch Trubisky. Claypool's 6‑yard TD, his first scoring reception of the season, was part of a season‑best 7‑catch, 96‑ yard performance by the former Irish standout. The win broke a four‑game losing streak for the Steelers and lifted the proud franchise to a record of 2‑4, in‑ stead of falling to 1‑5. "It was super cool, much needed," Claypool said afterward. "It's coming, it was good, it was cool." Through six games for Pittsburgh this season, Claypool had 23 catches for 225 yards with the 1 touchdown, and 8 car‑ ries for 55 yards. A second‑round draft pick by Pitts‑ burgh (49th overall) in 2020, Claypool played immediately as a rookie that sea‑ son and enjoyed a terrific first campaign with 62 receptions for 873 yards, 11 total touchdowns and a place on the PFWA All‑Rookie Team. Claypool put up simi‑ lar numbers with the Steelers as a sec‑ ond‑year player in 2021 with 59 catches for 860 yards and 2 touchdowns. With his team in a rebuilding mode this season, Claypool has recently been mentioned as a trade target for the Green Bay Packers that would pair him with MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers. The NFL trade deadline is Nov. 1. Interestingly, any talk of NFL trades and touchdowns weren't on Claypool's mind about seven years ago while he was stuffing basketballs and stat sheets as a shooting guard at Abbotsford High School in British Columbia, Canada. Claypool averaged 48 points a game as a high school senior. And the night before he signed his letter of intent to play football at Notre Dame, he scored 51 points in a game. Mainly through curiosity and some family nudging, Claypool decided to trade sneakers for cleats and give foot‑ ball a try. He was a quick study. As a high school senior, Claypool had 58 receptions, scoring 18 touchdowns while averaging 25.4 yards per catch. He also rushed for 567 yards, threw for 3 touchdowns and scored on 2 of his 4 punt returns. Defensively, Claypool recorded 74 tackles and 5 interceptions. For Claypool, any NFL success he en‑ joys will forever serve as a tribute to his mother and his late sister Ashley, who died from suicide about 10 years ago. "Not letting my mom down and not letting my sister down is the driving reason to go out and give my all every day," Claypool shared as an Irish senior in 2019. "Never leave anything on the table because you don't know what to‑ morrow will bring." In 45 career games at Notre Dame, Claypool recorded 150 receptions for 2,159 yards and 19 touchdowns. ✦ Claypool had a season-best 7-catch, 96-yard performance, including the game-winning touch- down, in the Pittsburgh's 20-18 upset victory over Tampa Bay Oct. 16. PHOTO COURTESY PITTSBURGH STEELERS Steelers Wide Receiver Chase Claypool Is Back On Track ACCOMMODATIONS Call 877-630-8768 to advertise in Blue & Gold Illustrated! MEMORABILIA M A R K E T P L A C E NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL GAMES on VHS or DVD for sale, from 1928 to present. Contact Peter Rahas at 7700 Golden Filly St., Las Vegas, NV 89131 or call 1-702-395-2974 The "Rockne" B&B Newly renovated rental home available for all events in the Notre Dame/South Bend area. Often called "The Rockne House," it is located on Rockne Drive, just 1.1 miles from ND stadium. The home features a Notre Dame museum-like atmosphere, from vintage Rockne to present day items. Three bedrooms, sleeps 10-12 with two full baths. CONTACT AUGIE'S LOCKER ROOM 574-277-NDND (6363) kyleaugustine1@icloud.com IRISH IN THE NFL HIGHLIGHTS: WEEK 6 • Julian Love (Played at Notre Dame from 2016-18), S, New York Giants: Started and made 5 tackles with an intercep- tion that set up the winning score in the Giants' 24-20 victory over the Ravens … Has recorded 41 tackles with 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 pass broken up and 1 interception in six games for 5-1 New York. • Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams: Hauled in 5 catches for 40 yards and rushed for a 17-yard touchdown in the Rams' 24-10 win over the Panthers … Has 23 catches for 221 yards and 1 carry for 17 yards in six games (five starts) for 3-3 Los Angeles. • Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Min- nesota Vikings: Started and made 6 tack- les with 1 interception and 1 forced fumble in the Vikings' 24-16 win over the Dolphins … Has made 34 tackles with 2 interceptions in five starts for 5-1 Minnesota. • Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Los Angeles Chargers: Started and made 8 tackles with 2 sacks in the Chargers' 19-16 overtime win against the Broncos … Has 49 tackles, 2 sacks and 1 interception in six games (five starts) for 4-2 Los Angeles.