Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/181992
Under the Dome Point ✦ Counterpoint: Who Is Currently The Best Notre Dame Alum Playing In The NFL? Hard Hitting Harrison By Dan Murphy The Tuck Rule By Andrew Owens For all the times the Minnesota Vikings have In the conversation of Notre Dame players stardipped into the Notre Dame well for prospects ring in the NFL during the past decade, no player — there are currently five former Irish players on approaches the impact former Irish defensive the roster — none has been a end Justin Tuck (2001-04) has smarter pick than second-year made as a professional. There safety Harrison Smith. have been a number of Notre The Vikings took Smith in Dame downfalls at the next the first round of the 2012 level (Brady Quinn and Jimmy NFL Draft, and he started imClausen to name a couple) pacting their defense immeand not too many former Irish diately. Smith made a case to players that have truly starred be mentioned among the canin the NFL. didates for defensive rookie of Tuck set a Notre Dame rethe year awards. He made 104 cord for sacks during his four tackles as a rookie. He interyears in South Bend, and the cepted three passes, two of argument can be made that which he returned for scores the 2005 squad would have that year, and has added two New York Giants defensive end Justin avoided three-point losses more in his first three games Tuck has not been as dominant the to Michigan State (overtime) of 2013. past two years as he used to be, and/or USC and reached the Smith is starting to develop but he still may be the most accom- Rose Bowl (that year's naa reputation as a player who plished Golden Domer in the NFL. tional championship game) consistently makes receivers photo by evan pinkus/courtesy new york giants had Tuck returned for a fifth pay the price. Chicago Bears star Brandon Marshall year. While that question will never be answered, recently told his Twitter followers that there's no Tuck's ability to translate his pass-rushing ways at safety in the league that hits harder. the next level was answered, and quickly. Smith's teammates — tight ends Kyle Rudolph Tuck, a third-round selection, eased into the and John Carlson especially — have helped Notre league with the New York Giants in 2005 and 2006, Dame's credit in Minnesota, but they aren't con- but he emerged as one of the league's top talents tributing as consistently. Newcomers Tyler Eifert with 10 sacks in 2007. During the four-year stretch and Manti Te'o have yet to prove themselves. from 2007-10, he averaged more than nine sacks Justin Tuck, defensive end from the New York per season. Giants, has the best résumé in his post-Irish career Tuck was also at his best when it mattered most, but he is past his prime. Tuck averaged 4.5 sacks recording a pair of sacks in each of New York's two per year during the last two years after averaging Super Bowl wins (2007 and 2011) over the New double digits at his peak. Plus, his Giants are off to England Patriots. Although he has not been quite a very rocky 0-3 start. He's ready to pass the torch, as dominant the past two years, he is still the most and Smith is primed to step into its light. recognizable Notre Dame graduate in the NFL.