Blue and Gold Illustrated

Jerome Bettis from 1990‑92, it took "The Train" at fullback with Bullock. During Parseghian's 11‑year reign, Bullock rushed for the most yardage (1,892) and touchdowns (24). Including two bowl game wins over No. 1 Alabama, Bullock paced the 1973 national champs in rushing (831 yards and 11 touchdowns) and also the No. 4 team (UPI poll) in 1974 (938 yards and 13 touchdowns). 3. Andy Heck (Annandale, 1985‑88) — A tight end his first three seasons, Heck developed into a consensus All‑American left tackle and first‑round pick as a tri‑captain for the 1988 national champs. A Jim Lynch‑like leader, he has been an offensive line coach in the NFL since 2004 and is currently with the Kansas City Chiefs. 4. Julius Jones (Big Stone Gap, 1999‑2001, 2003) — After a roller‑coaster first three seasons, and then a year of academic ineligibility, Jones exploded in 2003 with 1,268 rushing yards, 5.5 yards per carry and 10 scores to become a second‑round pick in the NFL Draft. His 262 rushing yards in a 20‑14 victory at No. 15 Pitt in 2003 is a single‑game Irish record. 5. Eric Dorsey (McLean, 1982‑85) — Similar to Jones, the defensive tackle's potential didn't come to the forefront until his senior year when he became a first‑round pick (No. 19 overall) after amassing 87 tackles with 15 for lost yardage. He arrived the same year as Pinkett, and that duo elevated Notre Dame to what many assessed as the top recruiting class in the country that season. 6. Tom Gibbons (Alexandria, 1977‑80) — A three‑year starter, first at corner and then the last two years at free safety, Gibbons was a tri‑captain on a powerful 1980 defense that set the school record for con‑ secutive quarters not yielding a touchdown (23). He recorded 140 tackles and nine interceptions during his career, including a 53‑yard touchdown return versus Miami, quarterbacked by Jim Kelly, as a senior. 7. Robert Banks (Hampton, 1983‑86) — The prized recruit was named the National High School Player of the Year by the Columbus (Ohio) Touchdown Club, and also was the lone player in Virginia to be named to the Associated Press all‑state team two straight years on offense and defense. At Notre Dame, he tallied 190 career tackles, mostly at outside linebacker before moving to the line his senior year under first‑year head coach Lou Holtz. He blossomed enough to be drafted by the NFL and play three seasons there. 8. Coley O'Brien (McLean, 1966‑68) — After starting quarterback Terry Hanratty suffered a season‑ ending injury early in the game at No. 2 Michigan State in 1966, O'Brien helped rally the Irish from a 10‑0 deficit and then the next week was 21‑of‑31 passing for 255 yards with three scores in the 51‑0 win at Pac‑8 champ USC to clinch the national title. As a senior, he was a starting halfback who rushed for 314 yards, averaged 17.0 yards on his 16 catches, scored seven touchdowns, and threw another to Joe Theismann in the 21‑21 tie at No. 2 USC. 9. Al Samuel (Newport News, 1972‑74) — From the same town and in the same graduating class as Bullock, he finished second to his Notre Dame teammate in rushing as a senior with 525 yards and 5.5 yards per carry, and tied for second in receiving with 14 catches. 10. David Ruffer (Oakton, 2009‑11) & Joey Hildbold (Centerville, 1999‑2002) — The walk‑on Ruffer began his Notre Dame career with a school record 23 straight made field goals and was one of three finalists in 2010 for the Lou Groza Award. Four‑year starter Hildbold averaged 40.3 yards per punt during his career. A couple of wide receiver recruits — Carlos Campbell (Hampton, 2001‑04) and Chase Anastasio (Burke, 2003‑06) — became special teams mainstays to earn honorable mention notice. — Lou Somogyi

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