Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/377020
recorded 110 tackles during his career. Like Dike, he too wasn't drafted but maximized his abilities during his col- legiate years. In time, current junior lineman Shel- don Day (Indianapolis, 2012-present) — who joined Nick Martin as a 2014 captain elect — could be on here, with Kelly already referring to him as one of the best nationally at his position. Honorable mentions include Chick Lauck (Indianapolis, 1966-68), B.J. Scott (Brookville, 1998-2000) and Pat Kuntz (Indianapolis, 2005-08). Lauck made 95 tackles his last two seasons as a starter, and both Scott and Kuntz had strong senior years. LINEBACKERS: MIKE MCGILL (HAMMOND, 1965-67), MIKE KOVALESKI (NEW CASTLE, 1983-86) JAYLON SMITH (FORT WAYNE, 2013-PRESENT) AND ANTHONY JOHNSON (SOUTH BEND, 1986-89) McGill started on the vaunted 1965- 67 defensive units under head coach Ara Parseghian, although he was in- jured in the sixth game for the 1966 na- tional champs. He recorded 181 tackles the other two years and played five seasons in the NFL. Kovaleski was to the linebackers what Dike was to the linemen. He stepped in as a starter his first game as a freshman and finished with 353 career stops, seventh most in Notre Dame history, while also serving as the lone captain on Lou Holtz's first Irish team in 1986. Smith has an unlimited football fu- ture after a sterling freshman debut. The only two Notre Dame players to record more stops than his 67 as a freshman were luminaries Bob Golic (82 in 1975) and Ross Browner (68 in 1973). Like Martin and Day, he too is destined for a future captaincy. We took artistic license with John- son, a four-year starting fullback/ tailback whose 34 career touchdowns were the most during the 11-year Holtz era (1986-96), with most com- ing during the school-record 23-game winning streak in 1988-89. We always believed the 225-pound Johnson, an '89 captain who then played 11 years in the NFL, could have been a stellar linebacker as well with his feet, in- stincts and hitting prowess. Bottom line: you find a spot for Johnson on your top 22. Or you could always move Johnson to fullback and have Sitko — who played in an era where players lined up on both side of the ball — at linebacker. DEFENSIVE BACKS: LUTHER BRADLEY (MUNCIE, 1973, 1975-77), DAVE DUERSON (MUNCIE, 1979-82), BOB LIVINGSTONE (1941-42, 1946-47) AND STACEY TORAN (INDIANAPOLIS, 1980-83) Bradley is Notre Dame's greatest all- around defensive back ever. He never missed a game and started in all 46. As a freshman strong safety he led the 1973 national champs in interceptions (six) and passes broken up (11) during the regular season. At cornerback for the 1977 national champs he was a consensus All-American and a first- round pick. His 17 career interceptions are the most ever at Notre Dame and his 27 passes broken up are third. Fellow Muncie native Duerson also was a four-year starter (though not every game) who could play corner or safety. He became a Pro Bowl per-