We’ve done it, the Notre Dame Hall of Fame Pyramid is complete. Over the last few months we’ve chronicled the very best of Fighting Irish players in an incredible 185-man pyramid leading up to the elite of elite talent to grace the football field in South Bend.
HERE is a link to the last post with the Top 10 and subsequent links to the preceding articles as we built the pyramid.
The entire Hall of Fame is listed here for history sake:
185. DeShone Kizer, QB, Toledo, Ohio (2014-16)
184. Nick Setta, K/P, Lockport, Illinois (2000-03)
183. Anthony Fasano, TE, Verona, New Jersey (2002-05)
182. Jerome Heavens, RB, East St. Louis, Illinois (1975-78)
181. Anthony Denman, LB, Lufkin, Texas (1997-2000)
180. Joe Kurth, OT, Madison, Wisconsin (1930-32)
179. Kyle Brindza, K, Plymouth, Michigan (2011-14)
178. John Mohardt, RB, Gary, Indiana (1919-21)
177. Tim Ruddy, C, Dunmore, Pennsylvania (1990-94)
176. Frank Rydzewski, C, Chicago, Illinois (1915-17)
175. Tom Zbikowski, S, Buffalo Grove, Illinois (2003-07)
174. Paul Seiler, OT, Algona, Iowa (1964-66)
173. T.J. Jones, WR, Gainesville, Georgia (2010-13)
172. John Carney, K, West Palm Beach, Florida (1984-86)
171. Ted Twomey, OT, Duluth, Minnesota (1928-29)
170. Tyler Newsome, P, Carrollton, Georgia (2014-18)
169. Louis Nix, DT, Jacksonville, Florida (2010-13)
168. Craig Hentrich, K, Alton, Illinois (1989-92)
167. Te’von Coney, LB, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida (2015-18)
166. Chuck Sweeney, E, Bloomington, Illinois (1935-37)
165. Kyle Rudolph, TE, Cincinnati, Ohio (2008-10)
164. Kinnon Tatum, LB, Fayetteville, North Carolina (1993-96)
163. Sheldon Day, DT, Indianapolis, Indiana (2012-15)
162. Bertrand Berry, DE, Humble, Texas (1993-96)
161. John Carlson, TE, Litchfield, Minnesota (2004-07)
160. Darius Walker, RB, Buford, Georgia (2004-06)
159. Hunk Anderson, OG, Calumet, Michigan (1918-21)
158. WR Rhema McKnight, WR, LaPalma, California (2002-06)
157. Mirko Jurkovic, OG, Calumet City, Illinois (1988-91)
156. Eric Dorsey, DT, McLean, Virginia (1982-85)
155. Maurice Stovall, WR, Wayne, Pennsylvania (2002-05)
154. Tom Schoen, S, Euclid, Ohio (1965-67)
153. Ron Powlus, QB, Berwick, Pennsylvania (1993-97)
152. Tom Carter, CB, St. Petersburg, Florida (1990-92)
151. Renaldo Wynn, DE, Chicago, Illinois (1992-96)
150. Justin Yoon, K, Nashville, Tennessee (2015-18)|
149. Vontez Duff, CB, Copperas Cove, Texas (2000-03)
148. Mike Gann, DT, Lakewood, Colorado (1981-84)
147. Trevor Laws, DT, Apple Valley, Minnesota (2004-07)
146. Drue Tranquill, LB, Fort Wayne, Indiana (2014-18)
145. Peter Duranko, DT, Johnstown, Pennsyvania (1962-66)
144. Tom Regner, OG, Kenosha, Wisconsin (1964-66)
143. Derek Brown, TE, Merritt Island, Florida (1988-91)
142. Frank Stams, DE, Akron, Ohio (1984-88)
141. Ronnie Stanley, OT, Las Vegas, Nevada (2012-15)
140. Courtney Watson, LB, Sarasota, Florida (1999-2003)
139. Anthony Weaver, DE, Saratoga Springs, New York (1998-2001)
138. Mike Kadish, DT, Grand Rapids, Michigan (1969-71)
137. Jack Robinson, C, Huntington, New York (1932-34)
136. Marc Edwards, FB, Norwood, Ohio (1993-96)
135. Derrick Mayes, WR, Indianapolis, Indiana (1992-95)
134. Kory Minor, LB, Inglewood, California (1995-98)
133. Allen Rossum, CB, Dallas, Texas (1994-97)
132. Rick Mirer, QB, Goshen, Indiana (1989-92)
131. Frank Varrichione, OT, Natick, Massachusetts (1951-54)
130. Jimmy Clausen, QB, Sherman Oaks, California (2007-09)
129. Frank Dancewicz, QB, Lynn, Massachusetts (1943-45)
128. Knute Rockne, E, Chicago, Illinois (1910-13)
127. Clipper Smith, OG, Hartford, Connecticut (1925-27)
126. Clem Crowe, E, Eden, New York (1923-25)
125. Gerry DiNardo, OG, Howard Beach, New York (1972-74)
124. Mark Bavaro, TE, Danvers, Massachusetts (1981-84)
123. Jim White, OT, Bronx, New York (1942-43)
122. Nick Rassas, S, Wilmette, Illinois (1963-65)
121. Anthony Johnson, FB, South Bend, Indiana (1986-89)
120. Dave Huffman, C, Dallas, Texas (1975-78)
119. Tim Grunhard, OG, Burbank, Illinois (1986-89)
118. Bud Boeringer, C, St. Paul, Minnesota (1925-26)
117. Ricky Watters, RB, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania (1987-90)
116. Rip Miller, OT, Canton, Ohio (1922-24)
115. Andy Heck, OT, Fairfax, Virginia (1985-88)
114. Julius Jones, RB, Big Stone Gap, Virginia (1999-2001, 2003)
113. Art Hunter, OT, Akron, Ohio (1951-53)
112. John Yonakor, E, Boston, Massachusetts (1942-43)
111. Stephon Tuitt, DE, Monroe, Georgia (2011-13)
110. Jim Carroll, LB, Atlanta, Georgia (1962-64)
109. Al Ecuyer, OG, New Orleans, Louisiana (1956-58)
108. Pete Demmerle, WR, New Canaan, Connecticut (1972-74)
107. Willie Fry, DE, Memphis, Tennessee (1973, 1975-77)
106. Dave Casper, TE, Chilton, Wisconsin (1971-73)
105. Mike Fanning, DT, Tulsa, Oklahoma (1972-74)
104. Vagas Ferguson, RB, Richmond, Indiana (1976-79)
103. Nordy Hoffman, OG, Seattle, Washington (1930-31)
102. Tommy Yarr, C, Dabob, Washington (1929-31)
101. Christie Flanagan, RB, Port Arthur, Texas (1925-27)
100. Reggie Brooks, RB, Tulsa, Oklahoma (1989-92)
99. Bob Kelly, RB, Chicago, Illinois (1943-44)
98. Autry Denson, RB, Davie, Florida (1995-98)
97. Bobby Taylor, CB, Longview, Texas (1991-94)
96. Fred Miller, OT, Milwaukee, Wisconsin (1926-28)
95. Josh Adams, RB, Warrington, Pennsylvania (2015-17)
94. John Scully, OG, Huntington, New York (1977-80)
93. Shane Walton, CB, La Jolla, California (1999-2002)
92. Will Fuller, WR, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2013-15)
91. Nick Pietrosante, FB, New Haven, Connecticut (1956-58)
90. Harrison Smith, S, Knoxville, Tennessee (2007-11)
89. Greg Marx, DT, Novi, Michigan (1970-72)
88. Pat Filley, OG, South Bend, Indiana (1941-44)
87. Jeff Burris, S, Rock Hill, South Carolina (1990-93)
86. Jerry Tillery, DT, Shreveport, Louisiana (2015-18)
85. Dave Duerson, S, Muncie, Indiana (1979-82)
84. Larry DiNardo, OG, Howard Beach, New York (1968-70)
83. Wayne Millner, E, Salem, Massachusetts (1933-35)
82. Kevin Hardy, DT, Oakland, California (1964-67)
81. Tom MacDonald, CB, Downey, California (1961-63)
80. Tony Hunter, TE, Cincinnati, Ohio (1979-82)
79. Julian Love, CB, La Grange Park, Illinois (2016-18)
78. Monty Stickles, E, Poughkeepsie, New York (1957-59)
77. Ray Eichenlaub, FB, Columbus, Ohio (1911-14)
76. Bert Metzger, OG, Chicago, Illinois (1928-30)
75. Eddie Anderson, E, Mason City, Iowa (1918-21)
74. Jeff Faine, C, Sanford, Florida (1999-2002)
73. Dick Arrington, OG, Erie, Pennsylvania (1963-65)
72. Harry Stuhldreher, QB, Massillon, Ohio (1922-24)
71. Mike McGlinchey, OT, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (2013-17)
70. Jack Cannon, OG, Columbus, Ohio (1927-29)
69. Joe Montana, QB, Carroll, Pennsylvania (1974-78)
68. Victor Abriami, DE, Baltimore, Maryland (2003-06)
67. Jack Snow, WR, Long Beach, California (1962-64)
66. Jim Crowley, RB, Green Bay, Wisconsin (1922-24)
65. Allen Pinkett, RB, Sterling, Virginia (1982-85)
64. Tyler Eifert, TE, Fort Wayne, Indiana (2009-12)
63. Clarence Ellis, CB, Grand Rapids, Michigan (1969-71)
62. Jerome Bettis, RB, Detroit Michigan (1990-92)
61. Michael Floyd, WR, Saint-Paul, Minnesota (2008-11)
60. Elmer Layden, RB, Davenport, Iowa (1922-24)
59. Gus Dorais, QB, Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin (1910-1913)
58. Justin Tuck, DE, Rockford, Alabama (2001-04)
57. Zack Martin, OT, Indianapolis, Indiana (2009-13)
56. George Kunz, OT, Arcadia, California (1966-68)
55. Jaylon Smith, LB, Fort Wayne, Indiana (2013-15)
54. John Huarte, QB, Anaheim, California (1962-64)
53. Mike McCoy, DT, Erie, Pennsylvania (1967-69)
52. Joe Theismann, QB, South River, New Jersey (1968-70)
51. Red Salmon, RB, Syracuse, New York (1900-03)
50. Nick Eddy, RB, Tracy, California (1964-66)
49. Tony Rice, QB, Woodruff, South Carolina (1986-90)
48. Ziggy Czarobski, OT, Chicago, Illinois (1942-43, 46-47)
47. Jim Martin, E, Cleveland, Ohio (1946-49)
46. Michael Stonebreaker, LB, River Ridge, Louisiana (1986-90)
45. Mike Townsend, CB, Hamilton, Ohio (1971-73)
44. Don Miller, RB, Defiance, Ohio (1922-24)
43. Joe Beinor, OT, Harvey, Illinois (1936-38)
42. Bill Shakespeare, RB, Staten Island, New York (1933-35)
41. Bryant Young, DT, Chicago Heights, Illinois (1990-93)
40. Jeff Samardzija, WR, Valparaiso, Indiana (2003-06)
39. Bob Williams, QB, Baltimore, Maryland (1948-50)
38. Quenton Nelson, OG, Red Bank, New Jersey (2014-17)
37. Jerry Groom, C, Des Moines, Iowa (1948-50)
36. Tom Clements, QB, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (1972-74)
35. Golden Tate, WR, Hendersonville, Tennessee (2007-09)
34. Marchy Schwartz, RB, Bay St. Louis, Missouri (1929-31)
33. Steve Niehaus, DT, Cincinnati, Ohio (1972-75)
32. Ralph Guglielmi, QB, Columbus, Ohio (1951-54)
31. Walt Patulski, DE, Liverpool, New York (1969-71)
30. Brady Quinn, QB, Dublin, Ohio (2003-06)
29. Jim Seymour, WR, Royal Oak, Michigan (1966-68)
28. Adam Walsh, C, Hollywood, California (1922-24)
27. Bob Dove, E, Youngstown, Ohio (1940-42)
26. Chris Zorich, DT, Chicago, Illinois (1988-90)
25. Tom Gatewood, WR, Baltimore, Maryland (1969-71)
24. Bob Golic, LB, Cleveland, Ohio (1975-78)
23. Aaron Taylor, OT, Concord, California (1991-93)
22. Emil Sitko, RB, Fort Wayne, Indiana (1946-49)
21. Manti Te’o, LB, Honolulu, Hawaii (2009-12)
20. Todd Lyght, CB, Flint, Michigan (1987-90)
19. Bob Crable, LB, Cincinnati, Ohio (1978-81)
18. Creighton Miller, RB, Wilmington, Delaware (1941-43)
17. Luther Bradley, CB, Muncie, Indiana (1973, 1975-77)
16. Jim Lynch, LB, Lima, Ohio (1964-66)
15. Ken MacAfee, TE, Brockton, Massachusetts (1974-77)
14. Bill Fischer, OG, Chicago, Illinois (1945-48)
13. Terry Hanratty, QB, Butler, Pennsylvania (1966-68)
12. Tim Brown, WR, Dallas, Texas (1984-87)
11. Alan Page, DE, Canton, Ohio (1964-66)
10. Frank Carideo, QB, Mount Vernon, New York (1928-30)
9. George Connor, DT, Chicago, Illinois (1946-47)
8. Rocket Ismail, WR, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania (1988-90)
7. Angelo Bertelli, QB, West Springfield, Massachusetts (1941-43)
6. Johnny Lattner, RB, Chicago, Illinois (1951-53)
5. Paul Hornung, QB, Louisville, Kentucky (1954-56)
4. George Gipp, RB, Laurium, Michigan (1917-20)
3. Ross Browner, DE, Warren, Ohio (1973, 1975-77)
2. Johnny Lujack, QB, Connellsville, Pennsylvania (1946-47)
1. Leon Hart, DE, Turtle Creek, Pennsylvania (1946-49)
We tried our best to be as fair as possible to all of the eras and different players through the generations. It doesn’t come as much of a surprise that offense (although a glut of two-way single platoon players make this math quite fuzzy) dominated the list with 112 players overall compared to 67 defenders and 6 players from special teams.
Going by the final season of a player and their head coach at the time the Pyramid breaks down like this:
Parseghian: 29
Holtz: 28
Kelly: 23
Rockne: 19
Leahy: 16
Weis: 12
Devine: 11
Faust: 7
Willingham: 7
Davie: 6
Brennan: 5
Layden: 5
Anderson: 4
Harper: 4
Devore: 2
McKeever: 2
Faragher: 1
Kuharich: 1
Yeah, this feels like the modern era has a strong bias, not necessarily on purpose though. The growth of the game offensively helps the modern players. For example, only 3 of Weis’ players (Zbikowski, Laws, Abriami) were defenders while that era ushered in the first successful modern passing game in school history. Either way, if we updated this list 30 years from now I would bet many of the Kelly players would fall out disproportionately as we get further away from today.
Overall we had 33 states represented in the Pyramid, including:
Ohio 23, Illinois 21, Pennsylvania 16, Indiana 15, California 12, New York 12, Michigan 9, Florida 8, Texas 8, Massachusetts 7, Wisconsin 6, Georgia 5, Minnesota 5, Iowa 4, Tennessee 4, Virginia 4, Connecticut 3, Louisiana 3, Maryland 3, New Jersey 3, Oklahoma 2, South Carolina 2, Washington 2, Alabama 1, Colorado 1, Delaware 1, Hawaii 1, Kentucky 1, Missouri 1, Nevada 1, and North Carolina 1.
Some interesting tidbits on certain individual states:
- Only 1 of the 12 players (Anthony Weaver) from New York has come since 1980.
- Wisconsin has only had 1 player make it since 1963.
- Kyle Brindza is the only one from Michigan since 1992 and the Great Lake State didn’t have anyone make it from the 1930’s, 40’s, 50’s, 80’s, or 2000’s.
- Illinois is still really high on the overall list but only 3 have come this century in Nick Setta, Tom Zbikowski, and Julian Love.
- The state of Pennsylvania is a bit of a weird one. The top 2 players ever come from PA from many years ago but also 8 of the top 16 have come since 1990 which is a nice rate of return in modern times.
- Florida is obviously a late-bloomer with the first player popping up with John Carney in 1984 and the first positional player being Derek Brown in 1988.
Here are the states for the players from 2000 through 2018:
Indiana 6, Florida 4, Georgia 4, Pennsylvania 4, California 3, Illinois 3, Minnesota 3, Ohio 3, Tennessee 3, New Jersey 2, Texas 2, Alabama 1, Hawaii 1, Louisiana 1, Maryland 1, Michigan 1, Nevada 1, New York 1, Virginia 1
How about Indiana, right?? The Hoosier State has been sneaky productive for the Irish so next time there’s some concern about whether to offer an in-state recruit maybe go ahead and pull that trigger.
Players of the Decades
1900’s: Red Salmon
1910’s: George Gipp
1920’s: Frank Carideo
1930’s: Bill Shakespeare
1940’s: Leon Hart
1950’s: Paul Hornung
1960’s: Alan Page
1970’s: Ross Browner
1980’s: Rocket Ismail
1990’s: Aaron Taylor
2000’s: Brady Quinn
2010’s: Manti Te’o
Does anyone think a current player on the roster will become the top player of the 2020’s decade?
The All-Time Starting 22
QB: Johnny Lujack
RB: George Gipp
TE: Ken MacAfee
OT: Aaron Taylor
OG: Bill Fischer
OC: Adam Walsh
OG: Quenton Nelson
OT: Joe Beinor
WR: Rocket Ismail
WR: Tim Brown
WR: Tom Gatewood
DE: Leon Hart
DT: George Connor
DT: Chris Zorich
DE: Ross Browner
LB: Jim Lynch
LB: Bob Crable
LB: Manti Te’o
CB: Luther Bradley
CB: Todd Lyght
S: Dave Duerson
S: Jeff Burris
Which side is better?
Combining the eras into one game seems absurd but we can try. The offense’s versatility and speed at the playmaking positions would be an awful lot to handle. Although, if there’s a weakness there isn’t much size and power for the offense outside of the offensive line.
I’d put this defensive front four up there with any other school’s offering in college football history. For as much tradition as Notre Dame has on the offensive line through the years I think it’s fair to say the ceiling for the players at the top has been better on the defensive line.
The All-Time Backups
QB: Paul Hornung
RB: Johnny Lattner
TE: Tyler Eifert
OT: Ziggy Czarosbki
OG: Jack Cannon
OC: Jerry Groom
OG: Dick Arrington
OT: George Kunz
WR: Jim Seymour
WR: Golden Tate
WR: Jeff Samardzija
DE: Alan Page
DT: Steve Niehaus
DT: Bryant Young
DE: Walt Patulski
LB: Bob Golic
LB: Michael Stonebreaker
LB Jaylon Smith
CB: Mike Townsend
CB: Clarence Ellis
S: Harrison Smith
S: Nick Rassas
***
You can’t help but wonder what it would take for a current athlete to really break into the discussion as one of the top players ever in school history. No one who began their career after 1990 made the Pyramid top 20 and I wonder how many other schools would say the same? Had the Irish beat Alabama in January 2013 you could make the case Manti Te’o would be very, very close to the Top 10.
Zibby behind Lujack???
A meme that will last forever.
Golic, Stonebreaker, and Smith as a backup line of LBs seems pretty damn intimidating.
Yup, the front sevens on both defenses are terrifying.
Starting O vs Starting D seems like a push to me. But I would definitely take the backup D over the backup O.
If QUENTON NELSON had stayed another year, he probably would have taken home every piece of hardware offered to an OL (first OL Heisman winner ever????) and would have made the playoffs. To me that seems worthy of pushing Bill Fischer for best OL ever, so top 15-20. Granted, I know nothing about Bill Fischer other than your blurb. And that is a lot more than Manti would have had to do.
That reminds me how crazy it is how many players (whether due to the old freshmen rule or from their own decision to leave early) didn’t play a 4th year for Notre Dame.
Kizer, Nix, Rudolph, Walker, Clausen, Tuitt, Adams, Fuller, Love, Eifert, Bettis, Jaylon, Nelson, Tate, and Rocket all left an extra year on the table.
I haven’t been able to find concrete rules about freshmen eligibility but it seems like pre-Rockne era guys played 4 years, then freshmen weren’t eligible until after WWII when they relaxed the rule for a while, then freshmen weren’t eligible again until the 1972 season. About half of this whole Pyramid played 3 years or fewer!
I think this will pretty much keep all new players from breaking into the top 10/20 tier. If you’re good enough to be a Notre Dame legend at this point, you might as well get to the NFL ASAP to get that money.
Two Heisman Trophy winners on the backup offense and the TE and WRs. were terrific. George Kunz was the #2 pick in the draft so I’m guessing he was pretty good. I think the backup O matches up fine.
Good points. And as far as the line goes, who knows, maybe mix in the Martin brothers and McGlinchey and Stanley if just their pure size from today makes them better options and that could conceivably have a big boost too for the pure talent pool to pick from.
“Does anyone think a current player on the roster will become the top player of the 2020’s decade?”
I think we have two commits (Tyree and Buchner, with maybe a third in Johnson) who have a clearly better chance of being the player of the 2020s rather than anyone on the current roster.