ISD Top 25 Players of the Brian Kelly Era: 15-11
ISD decided to rank the Top 25 players for the last five Irish head coaches---Brian Kelly, Charlie Weis, Tyrone Willingham, Bob Davie and Lou Holtz. This was quite an undertaking, but we thought we'd have fun as a staff doing it, and we felt our readers would enjoy it as well. We will start this week with our Top 25 for Brian Kelly, and throughout the spring and summer we will be releasing the other Top 25 for the other coaches as well.
We met as a staff, and after a much-heated debate (I should've recorded it because you'd probably find that conversation even more interesting), we're releasing our Top 25 Irish players from the Brian Kelly era.
We know there will be a lot of debate about this moving forward, and that's great because everyone has different opinions.
Our first order of business was figuring out which players should be classified with each coach. We settled on each player had to play at least two years for the coach they're assigned to, and have their two best years playing at ND while playing for that coach, so that is how each player was classified.
We also ranked each player by how much impact they had on the teams they played for. It had nothing to do with NFL potential or overall talent...simply the results based on their performance while at Notre Dame.
Understanding that, here is ISD's rankings of the No. 20 through No. 16 players for the Brian Kelly era. We will release the rest as the week goes on finishing with our No. 5 through No. 1 on Friday.
Please feel free to discuss our rankings by posting your comments below. Feel free to discuss how you feel they should be ranked, and ask any questions you may have of our staff or our rankings.
Enjoy!
ISD Top 25: 25-21
ISD Top 25: 20-16
15. CB Robert Blanton
Why he made the list:
He only played two seasons for Brian Kelly, but they were two great ones. He wasn't the best cover corner. He wasn't the biggest hitter or the fastest player in the secondary. Blanton was simply a playmaker.
His punt block for a touchdown against Utah in 2010 was a catalyst for saving that season. He made a remarkable amount of plays behind the line of scrimmage (15.5 tackles for loss) for a defensive back. Blanton had elite instincts that helped him play at a very high level as a junior and senior for Notre Dame.
Blanton played in the final 12 games of the 2008 season and started the final four games. He ended his freshman season with 33 tackles and two interceptions.
As a sophomore, Blanton recorded eight starts and played in all 12 games. His 38 tackles ranked eighth on the team and helped hold Colin Kaepernick to just 13-of-27 passing for 154 yards.
In 2010, Blanton recorded 52 tackles and seven tackles for loss. As mentioned, his blocked punt against Utah turned the season around and gave the program some much-needed momentum.
As a senior, Blanton registered a career-best 70 tackles and eight tackles for loss. Blanton recorded two interceptions and 82 yards in returns.
Career Stats
- 194 tackles
- 19.5 tackles for loss
- 8 interceptions
14. RB Theo Riddick
Why he made the list:
One word comes to mind when thinking of Riddick: baller. Whether it's as a receiver or a running back, Riddick is the kind of football player that could be good in any era. Not the biggest or fastest, but quick and tough.
He really shined in 2012 when he was moved back to running back and helped close out the two biggest wins of that season against Oklahoma and USC. His versatility was his biggest strength, though. He was a chess piece in the Irish offense that was used to perfection that season.
Riddick was used primarily as a kickoff returner as a freshman and totaled 849 return yards. He also rushed for 160 yards on 29 carries.
In 2010, Riddick missed four games with a foot injury started eight games. He recorded 40 receptions for 414 yards and three touchdowns in his first year at receiver. Riddick caught nine balls for 69 yards and a touchdown against Boston College.
Riddick started nine games and played in 11, but missed two games with an injury. He finished as Notre Dame’s second leading receiver with 38 catches and 436 yards and three scores. Riddick totaled eight catches for 83 yards and score against Air Force.
As a senior, Riddick moved back to running back and started eight of the 13 games. Riddick led the Irish with 917 rushing yards and ran for 51 first downs. His 36 receptions finished third on the team. Riddick ran for a career-high 146 yards against USC.
Career Stats
- 1,169 rushing yards
- 1,263 receiving yards
- 1051 kickoff return yards
- 13 touchdowns
13. DE Stephon Tuitt
Why he made the list:
Strictly from a talent perspective, Tuitt should be in the top-5 of this list. Maybe we have him too low. He finds himself here because of his inconsistency. But when he was on, there was no better defensive lineman that played for Brian Kelly at Notre Dame.
His second half against USC in 2013 was legendary. He had plenty of dominating moments like that in 2012 on their way to the national championship game as well. Thinking back on his 77-yard fumble return against Navy and his interception for a touchdown against Michigan has me starting to re-think where he's ranked.
Can we vote again? Tuitt was a great player for the Irish and it's really difficult because everyone above him was a great player too.
As a freshman, Tuitt started three games while appearing in nine. He recorded 26 of his 30 tackles in the final six games, including seven tackles against USC and Navy.
Tuitt played at an All-American level in 2012 with 47 tackles, 13 tackles for loss, 12 sacks and three forced fumbles. He started the year off with a 77-yard fumble return for a touchdown in Ireland against Navy.
For the second year in a row, Tuitt started all 13 games the Irish. Tuitt racked up 50 tackles, 7.5 sacks and nine tackles for loss. Tuitt became the first player since Tommy Zbikowski to return a fumble and an interception for a touchdown as he picked off Devin Garden at Michigan for a pick six.
Only Justin Tuck and Bryant Young recorded more multiple sack games in a Notre Dame uniform.
Career Stats
- 126 tackles
- 25.0 tackles for loss
- 21.5 sacks
- 1 interception
- 1 touchdown
Honors and Awards
Maxwell Award Watch List (2013)
Bednarik Award Watch List (2012, 2013)
ESPN.com First-Team All-American (2012)
Athlon Sports First-Team All-American (2012)
Sports Illustrated First-Team All-American (2012)
CBS Sports First-Team All-American (2012)
Walter Camp Second-Team All-American (2012)
Pro Football Weekly Honorable Mention All-American (2012)
Associated Press Second-Team All-American (2012)
Sporting News Second-Team All-American (2012)
Ted Hendricks Award Watch List (2012)
12. RB Josh Adams
Why he made the list:
His monster season didn't end up with him being invited to the Heisman ceremony, but it was one heck of a ride in 2017. His whole career has been a wild ride of big runs and monster games. Not bad for a guy who had a serious knee injury in high school and was considered the second best back the Irish signed in 2015.
We all know about his speed in the open field, but his power was underrated as he became stronger in the last couple of years. His receiving ability is probably a little overlooked as well, and he could have been utilized more in that capacity.
I'll never forget his electric run against Stanford in 2015, but I'm sure others will pick out other explosive plays he made. Adams was a difference-maker and belongs to be mentioned with the great running backs from Notre Dame that came before him.
Adams set a Notre Dame freshman record with 835 rushing yards in 2015. In his first game, Adams scored on his first carry and added another touchdown against Texas.
As a sophomore, Adams rushed for 933 yards and five touchdowns, despite battling injuries for most of the season.
In 2017, Adams ran for 1,430 yards and nine touchdowns while averaging 6.9 yards per rush. He eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark eight times and had eight runs of 59 yards or more.
Career Stats
- 3,198 rushing yards
- 336 receiving yards
- 22 total touchdowns
- 6.6 yards per carry
- Longest run in Notre Dame Stadium history at 98 yards
11. OL Chris Watt
Why he made the list:
Watt was Quenton Nelson before Quenton Nelson. He wasn't quite as good as Nelson was, but I think it's closer than some people think. He was nasty and played like he wanted to hurt people. He was pretty much everything you'd want in a guard at the college level.
Aaron Donald was the best defensive lineman in college football in 2013 and put up a ridiculous 28.5 tackles for loss that season. The only game he was shutout the entire year in that category was against Notre Dame with him often lining up opposite Watt.
After redshirting as a freshman, Watt saw action in 47 straight games and started 34 at left guard before missing two games late in his fifth season. Watt and his fellow linemen were stellar in protection during his final season in 2013, allowing just eight sacks on the season, tied for second in the nation for fewest sacks allowed and the least for any team that attempted as many pass attempts.
He was a third-round draft pick by the San Diego Chargers in the 2014 NFL Draft.
Honors and Awards
2013 Nick Pietrosante Award Winner
ISD Top 25
25. CB KeiVarae Russell
24. RB CJ Prosise
23. DL Louis Nix III
22. K Justin Yoon
21. RB Cierre Wood
20. DL Kapron Lewis-Moore
19. OL Nick Martin
18. WR TJ Jones
17. QB DeShone Kizer
16. OL Mike McGlinchey
15. CB Robert Blanton
14. RB Theo Riddick
13. DL Stephon Tuitt
12. RB Josh Adams
11. OL Chris Watt