Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/424772
Tight End: Troy Niklas (Fullerton, 2011‑13) After switching from defense to tight end his sophomore year in 2012, Niklas caught 32 passes in 2013 that averaged 15.6 yards with five scores. He opted to turn pro after his junior campaign, becoming a second-round NFL pick. Offensive Line: George Kunz (Arcadia, 1966‑68) and Tom Rehder (Santa Maria, 1983‑87) at tackle, Aaron Taylor (Concord, 1990‑93) and Larry Williams (Santa Ana, 1981‑84) at guard, Adam Walsh (Hol‑ lywood, 1922‑24) at center Kunz and Taylor join Zack Martin as probably Notre Dame's three best offensive linemen the past 60 years. Kunz, the No. 2 overall NFL Draft pick in 1969 (behind O.J. Simpson), also lined up at tight end in college. He made the Pro Bowl eight times. Taylor is Notre Dame's most recent two-time consensus All-American, first at guard in 1992 and then at tackle in 1993 when he won the 1993 Lombardi Award. Walsh is in the College Football Hall of Fame and was the leader of the "Seven Mules" on Notre Dame's first consensus national champs in 1924. Like Kunz, Rehder played tight end before starting his last two seasons at left tackle and then playing in the NFL. Williams also was a three-year starter and had a seven-year NFL career. All but Rehder were team captains. A quality second line could be formed with multiple-year starters such as center John Merandi (Blue Jay, 1996-99), Todd Norman (Huntington Beach, 1990-93), Mike Shiner (Sunnyvale, 1978-81), Kurt Vollers (Whittier, 1998-2001) and Taylor Dever (Grass Valley, 2008-11). Defensive Line: Kevin Hardy (Oakland, 1964‑67), Derek Landri (Concord, 2003‑06), Brad Williams (Orange, 1996‑99) and Bill Wightkin (Santa Mon‑ ica, 1946‑49) Hardy (Oakland) is Notre Dame's greatest all- around athlete to hail from the state. The defensive tackle also suited up in basketball and baseball, did the punting when needed and is the highest defen- sive draft pick from the state (No. 7 overall in 1968). Landri was an elite recruit who plugged the mid- dle and completed his seventh season in the NFL last year. Williams had a couple of starts on offense as a freshman and then 33 starts the next three years on defense. Wightkin backed up the peerless Leon Hart most of his career during the 1946-49 dynasty but room was made for him to start as a senior for the na- tional champs before playing four years in the NFL. Honorable mention goes to Chris Frome (Saugus, Defensive tackle Kevin Hardy, who is from Oakland, also earned monograms in basketball and baseball while at Notre Dame. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME MEDIA RELATIONS