Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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14 SEPT. 19, 2026 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME Izzy Engle — Soccer The junior midfielder/ forward from Edina, Minn., scored 3 goals in an 8-0 blowout victory over IU Indy Sept. 6. It marked the first 3 goals of the season for the Irish All-American, who now has three hat tricks during her stellar career. Despite playing in only two of the first seven games this season, Engle was still tied for sec- ond on the Irish with 7 points (3 goals, 1 assist). Blake Kelly — Soccer The junior goalkeeper from Holt, Mich., earned ACC Defensive Player of the Week honors Sept. 8 after helping the Irish to con- secutive wins over Harvard Aug. 31 and Michigan Sept. 6. He recorded 11 saves total for the week — 6 in a 3-1 win over Harvard and 5 in a 2-1 win against Michigan. Through Sept. 9, Kelly led the ACC with 22 saves and 4.40 saves per game. Sydney Helmers — Volleyball The senior outside hitter from Hebron, Ky., enjoyed the best game of her career in a 3-1 win — Notre Dame's first victory of the season — at Toledo Sept. 5. She re- corded a career-high 22 kills on a .326 hitting percentage, and added 16 digs, 2 service aces and 2 blocks. Through the first four matches this season, Helmers led the Irish with 62 kills and was third on the team with 31 digs. Nate Zimmermann — Soccer The senior forward from Mendham, N.J., scored the game-winning goal in the 89th minute of a 2-1 come- back victory over Michigan Sept. 6. The Wolverines led 1-0 for most of the night until the Irish scored in the 86th minute to tie the game 1-1. Three minutes later, Zimmermann headed in his first goal of the season, the game-winner that extended Notre Dame's winning streak to two matches and its unbeaten streak to four. TOP TOP OF THE CLASS OF THE CLASS Irish student-athletes excelling on the field and in the classroom ✦ GIMME FIVE Step aside, Sam Hartman. According to Pro Football Focus, Hartman's 19-of-23, 251-yard, 4-touch- down game against Navy in 2023 is no longer the best Notre Dame debut for a transfer in the Marcus Freeman era. It now belongs to former Pitt defensive tackle Francis Brewu. Brewu's 90.5 PFF defense grade for the Irish against Wisconsin Sept. 6 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis., edged out Hartman's 89.7 PFF offense grade against Navy on Aug. 26, 2023, at Aviva Stadium in Dublin, Ireland. In 28 snaps against the Badgers, Brewu made 3 defensive stops (tackles that result in a failure for the offense). As a pass rusher, he pressured Wisconsin quarterback Colton Joseph four times and sacked him once. As for the rest of the top five, No. 3 is former Louisville defensive tackle Jared Dawson in 2025. PFF liked Dawson's performance in a losing effort, in large part because he led the Irish with 3 pressures at Miami. No. 4 is former Ohio State defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste in 2023, when he shined as a run defender against the Midshipmen. Like Brewu, Jean-Baptiste came off the bench in his first game in an Irish uniform. He started the final 12 games he played for Notre Dame, which is perhaps a sign of things to come for the ex-Panther. No. 5, meanwhile, is Colorado transfer cornerback DJ McKinney. Not only did he notch a 55-yard pick six that broke the Wisconsin game wide open, but he was targeted only once more in 20 coverage snaps, allowing an 8-yard reception. McKinney's 74.4 PFF defense grade edges out Oregon transfer defensive tackle Tionne Gray (73.6) for the No. 5 spot. Notre Dame's defensive offseason additions have made a strong early impression. — Jack Soble CHARTING THE IRISH RANKING COLLEGES BY ACTIVE NFL EARNINGS When the NFL season started Sept. 9, 47 former Notre Dame play- ers were listed on active rosters. That is the fifth-most players among colleges, according to Spotrac, and made the Irish one of just nine programs with at least 40 players on active NFL rosters. But because Spotrac tracks players' contracts in the NFL and other major sports leagues, it provided a ranking of the top college programs in terms of combined career earnings of those active NFL players. Notre Dame ranked No. 6 with combined career earnings of $273.8 million. The only school with fewer active NFL players and more combined ca- reer earnings than Notre Dame is Oklahoma, which ranks fifth in career earnings ($284.5 million) despite having 13 fewer active NFL players than Notre Dame. Notre Dame's active leader in career earnings, according to Spotrac, is Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley at nearly $204.6 million. Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith, who signed a one- year contract this month to extend his career into a 15th season, is second among former Notre Dame players in career earnings with $169.6 million. Rounding out the top five of active former Irish players in career earnings: Indianapolis Colts offensive guard Quenton Nelson ($132.6 million), Denver Broncos offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey ($99.5 million) and Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton ($83.1 million). The largest current contract among active NFL players out of Notre Dame belongs to Arizona Cardinals running back Jeremiyah Love, who signed a rookie contract this year worth $53 million over four years. — Tyler James BEST NOTRE DAME TRANSFER DEBUTS SINCE 2022 BY PFF GRADE Minimum 15 snaps Rk. Player, Pos. Previous School, First Year At ND Debut Grade 1. Francis Brewu, DT Pitt, 2026 90.5 2. Sam Hartman, QB Wake Forest, 2023 89.7 3. Jared Dawson, DT Louisville, 2025 78.7 4. Javontae Jean-Baptiste, DE Ohio State, 2023 77.6 5. DJ McKinney, CB Colorado, 2026 74.4 COMBINED CAREER EARNINGS OF ACTIVE NFL PLAYERS Rk. College Players Earnings 1. Alabama 62 $462.3M 2. Ohio State 59 $455.0M 3. Georgia 57 $363.1M 4. LSU 48 $353.8M 5. Oklahoma 34 $284.5M 6. Notre Dame 47 $273.8M 7. Clemson 32 $257.4M 8. Penn State 38 $248.5M 9. Oregon 41 $246.8M 10. Southern Cal 28 $233.1M Baltimore Ravens offensive tackle Ronnie Stanley is Notre Dame's active leader in career NFL earnings at nearly $204.6 million. PHOTO COURTESY BALTIMORE RAVENS