Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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compared to 30 interceptions), but his dramatic ascent from third-team QB in 1977 propelled the national title march, and his four Super Bowl rings enhanced the legend. We wish we could move Tom Clements (McKees Rock, 1972-74) or Terry Hanratty (Butler, 1966-68) to another position, like we did with John Lujack (Connellsville, 1942-43, 1946-47), because they would qualify among the best or most memorable 22 from Pennsylvania who played at Notre Dame. From 1947-77, four different quarterbacks from Pennsylvania were starters on national title teams at Notre Dame. Running Backs: Ricky Watters (Harrisburg, 1987‑90) and Don Schaefer (Pittsburgh, 1953‑55) Similar to Montana, Watters had a more prolific NFL career, but he too brought a swagger that helped the program reach the apex. He played at flanker as a sophomore for the 1988 national champs and began that season with an 81-yard punt return for a score in the 19-17 win over Michigan. It was a coin flip at fullback between Schaefer and Larry Conjar (Harrisburg, 1964-66). Schaefer led the team in rushing in 1954 (766 yards) and 1955 (638) en route to becoming the 28th pick in the NFL Draft. Conjar was the classic pulverizing blocker that made him a second-round pick (like Watters). He also rushed for more than 500 yards in both 1965 and for the 1966 national champs, highlighted by 118 yards and scoring all four touchdowns in the 1965 win over USC. A slight edge to Schaefer because he also started on defense. Wide Receivers: Raghib Ismail (Wilkes‑Barre, 1988‑90) and Will Fuller (Philadelphia, 2013‑pres‑ ent) Ismail became the first player ever at Notre Dame to eclipse 1,000 career yards in three different cate- gories: receiving, rushing and returns, and he did it in three years. The 1990 Walter Camp Award winner's 22.0 yards per catch ranks No. 1 in school history, he averaged 7.7 yards per carry and his six TD returns are tied for the school record. In two-receiver sets, we give the nod to Fuller over fellow Philadelphia native Maurice Stovall (2002-05), mainly because Fuller as a sophomore tied the sin- gle-season school record of 15 TD catches, whereas Stovall didn't blossom until his senior year when he became a third-round pick. Tight End: Jim Mutscheller (Beaver Falls, 1949‑51) After playing for the 1949 national champs, he led the team in receiving in 1950-51, nabbing 35 passes, seven for scores, which were both school records at the time, as a junior. He and Mike Ditka would become the NFL's first premier pass-catching tight ends during the 1950s. Offensive Line: Jim Schrader (Carnegie, 1951‑53), Dick Arrington (Erie, 1963‑65), Tim Ruddy (Dun‑ more, 1990‑93), John Mastrangelo (Leechburg, 1944‑46) and Mark Brenneman (York, 1971, 1973‑74) The one "negative" is there are no tackles, al- though current starter Mike McGlinchey (Philadel- phia) could some day join this unit. Schrader started on back-to-back top-three teams, was the No. 20 pick in the 1954 NFL Draft and had an 11-year career that included three Pro Bowls. Arrington was an All-American in both football (con- sensus) and wrestling, and he is the last Notre Dame player to start on both sides of the ball in one sea- son — right guard on offense and defensive tackle in 1965. Ruddy shined on the 1992-93 units that won 17 straight games and then was a 10-year center for the Miami Dolphins, in which he started all 140 games he played his last nine seasons. Mastrangelo started on the ultra-talented 1946 national champs and was the No. 16 pick in the NFL Draft. Brenneman hiked the ball to Clements for the 1973 national champs and the Orange Bowl champs the next season. A strong case also could be made for Walt Grothaus (Wayne, 1946-49), who started at center for the 1949 national champs. Defensive Line: Leon Hart (Turtle Creek, 1946‑49) and Don Gmitter (Mount Lebanon, 1964‑66) at end, and Pete Duranko (Johnstown, 1963‑66) and Mike