Freeman's All-Offensive Team Of The Brian Kelly Era

Earlier this year, Irish Sports Daily rolled out the Top 25 players of the Brian Kelly era. 

The ISD staff debated and debated the list and it went down like this: 

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
10. DL Sheldon Day
9. OL Ronnie Stanley
8. S Harrison Smith
7. LB Jaylon Smith 
6. TE Tyler Eifert
5. LB Manti Te'o
4. WR Will Fuller
3. WR Michael Floyd
2. OL Quenton Nelson
1. OL Zack Martin

Now that we’ve had time to digest that list, I wanted to put together my team of Brian Kelly players at Notre Dame. There aren’t any restrictions on this regarding years the player had to play for Kelly like in the ISD Top 25 Player of the Brian Kelly Era. 

We’ll take a look at the offense today. 

QB DeShone Kizer 
Everett Golson was close, but the turnovers were too much. Kizer had everything Brian Kelly wanted in a Notre Dame quarterback, and while another year would have benefited him, I can’t blame him for leaving early with how the 2018 quarterback draft class looked. 

Kizer was clutch in his first season for Irish as he led several comebacks and helped Notre Dame make an appearance in the Fiesta Bowl. His second year didn’t go so hot as he wasn’t able to make big plays at big moments, but he was still the most consistent quarterback under Kelly to this point. 

Career Stats
422/695 (60.7%) 
5,805 passing yards 
47 touchdowns 
19 interceptions 
264 carries
997 rushing yards 
18 rushing touchdowns 

RB Theo Riddick 
There wasn’t much Riddick couldn’t do on the football field, and that puts him on my list. The ability to catch the football out of the backfield is something Notre Dame hasn’t consistently had since he left for the NFL. On the ground, Riddick wasn’t Josh Adams regarding breaking big runs, but he got the yardage he needed to get and little more. I’ll be honest too…I missed the jukes. 

Career Stats
244 carries
1,169 rushing yards 
5 rushing touchdowns 
120 receptions 
1,263 receiving yards 
8 receiving touchdowns 

RB Josh Adams 
This was a tough call because I wanted to find someone to compliment Riddick. Adams, Jonas Gray and CJ Prosise were who I came down to in this decision. I went with Adams because of the ability to consistently hit the big play and wear down the defense. All three had injury problems, but playing alongside Riddick, I’m going with the game breaking speed, consistent pass protection and the size of Adams. 

Career Stats 
480 carries
3,201 rushing yards 
20 touchdowns 
41 catches 
336 receiving yards 
2 receiving touchdowns

WR Michael Floyd 
This is a no-brainer. Floyd was dominant in college and was a problem for every defense he faced. He was able to make plays deep, over the middle and could break open a screen pass. If you put Floyd with a quarterback like Kizer, the stats would likely be incredible. 

Career Stats 
271 receptions 
3,686 receiving yards 
37 touchdowns 

WR Will Fuller
Who better to pair opposite Floyd than one of the fastest receivers in school history? Fuller and Floyd would have been a pleasure to watch on the field at the same time. Fuller’s ability to get behind the defense would open up the entire field for Floyd, but he’d also make a ton of plays for himself. I would even think Chip Long’s screen game would see great success with Floyd blocking on the edge to free up Fuller. 

Career Stats 
144 receptions 
2,512 receiving yards 
30 receiving touchdowns 

WR Chris Brown 
There are probably a few more productive receivers I could have put on this list, but I feel Brown is the perfect compliment to Floyd and Fuller. Brown can work out of the slot, or he could work on the outside if you wanted to put Floyd or Fuller in the slot. Brown was reliable, and a great leader for the Irish and I feel it’s just right to put him here. Oh, Brown’s speed also works well as the third option.

Career Stats 
104 receptions 
1,410 receiving yards 
6 touchdowns 

TE Tyler Eifert 
It’d be pretty ridiculous to put another name as the starting tight end. Eifert could do it all and at the highest of levels. I really don’t know what else to say other than he’s the best tight end in school history in my opinion and there’s a lot of names to choose from on that list. 

Career Stats 
140 receptions 
1,840 receiving yards 
11 touchdowns 

LT Zack Martin 
Much like Eifert, I don’t think I need to say too much. The guy won MVP of a bowl game. 

LG Quenton Nelson 
Once again, I’m not avoiding writing something here but yeah. 

C Nick Martin
Ask me at this time next year, and it might be Sam Mustipher. However, Martin was an outstanding center and was probably a little more consistent than Mustipher has been to this point. He battled a few injuries, but that’s not going to move him down in my mind. Quality player and a nasty player. 

RG Chris Watt
He might have played left guard at Notre Dame, but I don’t think Mr. Watt would have much of a learning curve at right guard. Another nasty player and one that just loves the game of football. Give me a guy that’s looking to dominate his opponent every play. 

RT Mike McGlinchey
The All-American left tackle might have been even more dominant as a right tackle, and that’s saying something. McGlinchey wasn’t bad by any means at left tackle (He was a Top 10 pick), but right tackle fits his personality a little bit better in my opinion. He wants to play physical and right tackle would allow him to focus on physicality a little more than the finesse of the left tackle position. 

Defense is coming on Wednesday.