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Andy Smith's top Notre Dame football players of all time. Read his top 10 Notre Dame football players and power rankings.
Top 10 Greatest Notre Dame Football Players Of All Time
In this ranking, we will analyze the top 10 greatest players in Notre Dame football history. We will look at career statistics, legacy, and impact during their time with the Fighting Irish.
No. 10: Brady Quinn, QB
Brady Quinn stands at the top of almost every passing record in Notre Dame history. Quinn totaled 11,762 yards with 95 total touchdowns across four full seasons. Both statistics are the most in school history. Quinn also holds the record for the most passing yards in a single season (3,919). However, his modest 240 passing yards per game and lack of accolades place him at the No. 10 spot on this list.
No. 9: Manti Te'o, LB
After a quiet rookie campaign, Manti Te’o played a significant role during his final three seasons in South Bend. Over his final three seasons, Te’o tallied at least 110 combined tackles in each campaign. During his senior season, Te’o finished second in the Heisman voting. During that campaign, he tallied a career-best seven interceptions.
No. 8: Raghib Ismail, RB/WR
Raghib Ismail was an impact playmaker at Notre Dame. He won a National Championship during his first freshman season (1988) and caught two scores and 331 yards during that season. However, over his final two seasons (sophomore and junior), Ismail tallied at least 1,000 scrimmage yards in each campaign. During his third and final season, Ismail ran for 537 yards and caught 699 en route to being named an All-American and finishing second in the Heisman voting.
No. 7: Jerome Bettis, RB
After just scoring one touchdown during his first season, Jerome Bettis developed into an elite power back over his next two seasons at Notre Dame. During his second season (and first as a full-time starter), he found the back of the end zone 20 times and posted a stellar 6.3 YPC. Then, in his third and final year, Bettis showed similar consistency, tallying 6.3 YPC once again with 12 TDs. He totaled over 1,000 scrimmage yards in each of these two campaigns.
No. 6: George Connor, OL
George Connor only played in 18 games with the Fighting Irish but held an incredible 17-0-1 record. Connor was a force on the offensive line as he won the first-ever Outland Trophy, which is given to the nation’s top interior lineman. Connor was named All-American during his two seasons at Notre Dame and went on to be an All-Pro lineman for the Chicago Bears.
No. 5: Ross Browner, DL
Ross Browner spent his entire four-year college career in South Bend. Browner was a two-time All-American (consensus) and was the recipient of two awards, the Outland Trophy in 1976 and the Maxwell Trophy in 1977. He totaled an incredible 340 tackles during his career and finished fifth in Heisman voting during the 1977 campaign.
No. 4: Alan Page, DT
Alan Page was a critical player in the interior line of the Notre Dame defense. Page started in every game he appeared in during his tenure. The defensive tackle was named All-American once. He helped the Irish post 12 shutouts during his time and totaled an impressive 66 tackles during his final season. This performance raised his draft capital as he was selected 15th overall by the Minnesota Vikings in the 1987 NFL Draft.
No. 3: Paul Hornung, QB
Paul Hornung only operated as the starting QB for two seasons in South Bend but made a significant impact. During his first season as a starter, Hornung was named All-American and finished fifth in Heisman voting. Then, in his final season, Hornung was awarded the 1956 Heisman Trophy and held a strong 108.0 passer rating.
No. 2: Tim Brown, WR
Tim Brown spent his entire four-year career at Notre Dame. During his third season, Brown tallied a career-high 910 receiving yards with seven total touchdowns. Then, in his senior year, Brown was named All-American and won the Heisman Trophy (1987). During this season, Brown tallied 990 all-purpose yards with four touchdowns. Over his career, Brown tallied 2,935 scrimmage yards and found the back of the end zone 16 times.
No. 1: Joe Montana, QB
One of the greatest quarterbacks in football history takes the top spot on this list. Joe Montana only appeared in seven games during his first season. Then, over his final two campaigns, Montana took over starting duties. During the 1977 season, Montana led the Irish to a National championship. During this season, he totaled 1,604 yards and 11 scores over nine games. In his next (and final) season, Montana threw for a career-best 2,010 yards and averaged a stellar 182.7 YPG.
