Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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When including bowls, 2012 Mackey Award winner Eifert, a first-round NFL Draft selection, finished with 140 career receptions, the most ever by a Notre Dame tight end. Honorable mention to Tony Smith (Gary, 1989-91), who led the 1991 team in catches with 49, including seven in the 39-28 Sugar Bowl victory versus No. 3 Florida. OFFENSIVE LINE: ZACK MARTIN (INDIANAPOLIS, 2010-13), PAT FILLEY (SOUTH BEND, 1941-43), WALLY ZIEMBA (HAM- MOND, 1940-42), BRAXSTON CAVE (MISHAWAKA, 2009-12) AND MIKE ROSENTHAL (GRANGER, 1995-98) First-round pick Martin set the Notre Dame record for consecutive starts (52) last year. The two-time cap- tain/left tackle was the epitome of competence and consistency. Guard Filley was the captain of the 1943 national champs, a first-team UPI and Sporting News All-American, and a second-team Associated Press pick. Ziemba was the starting center on Frank Leahy's first two Notre Dame teams, was the No. 50 overall pick in the 1943 NFL Draft and helped coach the line for Leahy on four national title teams. On the right side, we'll put the local Penn High School connection of Cave (a three-year starter at center) and Rosenthal, who played both guard and tackle. Cave received third-team All-Amer- ica notice from the AP and Sporting News after the 12-0 regular season in 2012. Rosenthal was the first freshman offensive lineman to start for the Irish. In his senior season, the future 10-year NFL veteran received second-team AP All-America notice. Guard Noble Kizer (Plymouth, 1922- 24), one of the Seven Mules who be- came a successful head coach at Pur- due, leads our honorable mentions. Emmett Keefe (Raub, 1913-15) was a three-year starter when Notre Dame was beginning to make its name, Joe Kuharich (South Bend, 1935-37) started two years for the Irish and played several years in the pros before becoming the Irish head coach from 1959-62, and Chuck Puntillo (East Chi- cago, 1957-58) was a co-captain as a senior. DEFENSIVE LINE: BOB KUECHENBERG (HAMMOND, 1966-68), KEN DIKE (MERRILLVILLE, 1974-77) AND JON AUTRY (FORT WAYNE, 1980-83) Kuechenberg started as a sopho- more offensive tackle on the 1966 na- tional champs after classmate George Kunz was lost for the season in the second game. As a junior and senior, Kuechenberg was needed more on de- fense, and his 18 tackles for loss those two seasons paced the team. Then in the NFL, Kuechenberg was a six-time Pro Bowl pick at offensive guard while helping Miami to two Super Bowl ti- tles, highlighted by the lone perfect record in NFL history (17-0) by the 1972 Dolphins. Dike was the consummate over- achiever. He never played in the NFL but tied for second in tackles (99, eight for loss) as a junior in 1976. For the 1977 national champs, his 91 tackles (six for loss) were fourth on the team. Autry started each of his last three seasons, from end to nose guard, and