Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Kelly trusted me to be captain of the team. The whole group of guys … it was great to be around them because they had so much knowledge they could share with me." Having spent a week with first-year Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier, who coached the North squad at the Senior Bowl in January, Smith wasn't shocked that Minnesota traded up to snag him. The Vikings hadn't been in contact since the Senior Bowl, but Smith felt like he made a good impres- sion while in Mobile, Ala., for the all-star showcase. "I felt like they liked me; I did a good job down there," he said. "I couldn't be happier. know how the coaches are and how they like to com- municate. I really enjoyed my time with them at the Senior Bowl and I'm excited to get up there and get going with them." Not only will Smith join familiar faces in former Irish standouts and current Vi- kings players Kyle Rudolph (tight end), John Carlson (tight end) and John Sullivan (center), he will have Blanton fighting for a position in the defensive backfield at cor- nerback and safety. I already other end calling to inform Blanton he was their first selection in the fifth round (139th overall). "I wasn't even watching the draft," Blanton said. "I was help- ing my brother-in-law and sister move in. She needed some help. I've never really watched the draft at all." Safety Harrison Smith, who was taken by Minnesota with the 29th overall pick, is the highest-drafted defensive player from Notre Dame since defensive lineman Renaldo Wynn (21st overall by Jacksonville in 1997). PHOTO COURTESY MINNESOTA VIKINGS know if they were taking any more defen- sive backs," he said. "They already had a couple. It was a big surprise and I loved it. We [ND guys] move around, baby." draft stock considerably at Notre Dame's Pro Day on April 3. He ran a 4.7-second 40 in Indianap- olis and clocked around a 4.55 at Pro Day. He's con- sidered a safety at the pro level after registering 70 tackles and forcing two fumbles in 2011, many times lining up as the nickel for Notre Dame. "It's awesome; I didn't Blanton improved his Blanton wasn't watching the final rounds of the 2012 NFL Draft on April 28. In fact, the former ND corner was helping move his sister Whitney's television into her new apartment in Charlotte, N.C., when his phone rang. It was the Minnesota Vikings on the the fifth round (165th overall), and the for- mer Irish outside linebacker was the fourth and final ND alumnus picked. Fleming finished with 55 tackles (fifth best on the team) in 13 starts this past sea- son, including seven for loss and 3.5 sacks. He added one interception, a blocked kick and seven quarterback hurries. He ended his career with 158 total stops, 32.5 for loss and 15 sacks. JUNE/JULY 2012 37 FLEMING LANDS IN SAN FRAN Fleming was selected by San Francisco in