THE 4 HORSEMEN PODCAST’S ALL-DECADE NOTRE DAME TEAM

As 2020 comes to an end, here’s our picks!

Methodology: Dylan, Steve, and Pwagon each voted. If 2/3 agreed, that player was selected. If not, we went to backup choices.

*Unanimous selection

#GoIrish

QB: Book
RB: Adams*
WR: Claypool*, Floyd, Fuller
TE: Eifert*
T: Z. Martin*, Stanley*
G: Nelson*, Banks*
C: N. Martin

DE: Tuitt*, Okwara*
DT: Tillery*, Nix*
LB: J. Smith*, Te’o, Owusu-Koramoah
CB: Love*, Russell
S: H. Smith*, Hamilton

K: Brindza
P: Newsome*

*Unanimous

#GoIrish

QB: Ian Book @Ian_Book12 will finish his career as the winningest QB in ND history. Ian has passed for 8,700+ yards and 88 total TD’s en route to 2 CFP appearances for the Irish #LetBookCook #GoIrish

RB: Josh Adams rushed for 3,198 yards and 20 TD’s in his Notre Dame career; finishing with 1,430 & 9 in his Junior year before departing for the NFL - just 7 yards short of the school record previously set by Vagas Ferguson in 1979 #33Trucking #GoIrish

WR: Chase Claypool @chaseclaypool was one of the most dominant skill position players in recent Fighting Irish history. His Sr year, Chase caught 66 passes for 1,037 yards and 13 TD’s, just 2 behind the all time school record shared by 4 different players #Mapletron

WR: Michael Floyd @MichaelMFloyd played his Jr. & Sr. seasons under Coach Kelly where he amassed 2,172 yards & 21 TD’s over those two years. Floyd was drafted 13th overall in the first round of the 2012 NFL draft #GoIrish

WR: Will Fuller is the all time single season receiving TD record holder, putting up 15 scores in his sophomore year followed by an additional 14 the next year. Will finished his ND career with 2,512 career yards and was named a 2nd Team All American. 21st overall draft selection

TE: Tyler Eifert @tylereifert tallied 140 receptions for 1,840 yards and 11 TD’s over the course of his 3 years on campus. He won the 2012 Mackey Award as the best TE in CFB, as well as being named a 2nd Team All American. He was drafted 21st overall in the first round of 2013

OT: Zack Martin holds the school record for the most career starts by an OL with 52. He captained the OL unit in his senior year of 2013-14 that only gave up 8 sacks all season, ending the season as the MVP of the Pinstripe bowl - the first OL since 1959 to do so in a bowl game.

OG: Quenton Nelson @BigQ56 was named a unanimous 1st Team All-American after the 2017 season, after which he would declare for the NFL draft, going 6th overall. Also, it is rumored that he kept some of the teeth from the UGA defender he knocked out

C: Nick Martin @NDmartin72 was a one time Captain & 3 time All-Independent selection. As a RS Sr. in 2015, Martin helped establish a running game that rushed for 207.6 yards per game, the highest since 1998. He was selected 50th overall in the 2nd round #GoIrish

OG: Aaron Banks is another 1st Team All American selection for the Irish. With 30 career starts under his belt, he leads this Irish team to a second CFB Playoff for the 2nd time in 3 years. His junior season of 2019 he allowed just 2 sacks on 844 snaps.

OT: Ronnie Stanley @megatronnie took over as the starting LT after Zack Martin left for the NFL, and Ronnie proceeded to give up only one (1) sack the entire 13 game season. He was picked 6th overall in the first round of the 2016 NFL draft #GoIrish

DE: Stephon Tuitt @DOCnation_7 was named an All American twice in his ND career. In the course of 35 career games he racked up 127 tackles, 25 for a loss, and 21.5 sacks. He was drafted 46th overall in the 2nd round of the 2014 draft #DoItTuitt #GoIrish

DT: Louis Nix III @1irishchocolate had a breakout Jr. season when he recorded 50 tackles, including 7.5 for a loss, and 2 sacks. He was an integral piece of the 2012 defense that helped lead the Irish to a National Championship berth. Nix was drafted 83rd overall #IrishChocolate

DT: Jerry Tillery @JerryTillery had 12.5 sacks and 23 TFL for Notre Dame in his 4 years on campus, starting for 3 of them. He was a 1st round pick in 2019, going 28th overall #GoIrish

DE: Julian Okwara @julian_okwara was a 2 year starter at ND where he totaled 77 tackles, 14.5 sacks, 3 FF & 2 INT’s. He went on to be drafted in the 3rd round to play alongside his brother Romeo in Detroit #GoIrish

LB: Jaylon Smith @thejaylonsmith finished his Jr. year as the 2015 Dick Butkus award winner and a 2nd Team All American en rout to a Fiesta Bowl appearance. Jaylon had 292 tackles coupled with 24.5 TFL & 4.5 sacks - helping him to a 2nd round draft selection in 2016 #ClearEyeView

LB: Manti Teo lead a Heisman Runner-Up campaign in 2012 on the way to a National Title appearance. He started in 47 consecutive games for the Irish. Manti is just the 2nd player in ND history to record 100+ tackles in 3 straight seasons. Also a Butkus winner(+Bednarik & Nagurski)

LB: Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah @OwusuKoramoah is also a Butkus award winner and 1st team All American. The defensive playmaker has 134 career tackles, 10 sacks, and 5 Forced Fumbles as he leads this years Irish defense into another CFB Playoff appearance #GoIrish

CB: Julian Love @julianlove27 was an All American in 2018 helping to lead the Irish to a CFB Playoff appearance. Julian defended 34 passes and have 5 picks with 2 defensive TD’s in his two seasons as a starter for the Blue & Gold. He was selected in the 4th round in 2019

CB: KeiVarae Russell @Keivarae1 started all 13 games as a True Freshman that ended with a 2012 National Title appearance. Kei had 5 interceptions, 1.5 sacks, & a forced fumble in his career helping him to be selected in the 3rd round of 2016 #GoIrish

S: Harrison Smith @HarriSmith22 started 47 games over 4 years for the Domers - tallying 309 tackles, 28 Passes Defended, & 7 Interceptions. Smith was selected in the 1st round of the 2012 draft and since then has been widely regarded as one of the best Safetys in the NFL

S: Kyle Hamilton @kham316 - and on the 8th Day, God created Kyle Hamilton. He is flawless. Also, people don’t forget the time he picked off Schmil Schmurkovec 3 times in Spring Practice as a True Freshman #GoIrish

K: Kyle Brindza @kyle_brindza began his career coming in for injured Nick Tausch, went 2-3 with a tackle & GW FG against Purdue. He then proceeded to kick at a 98.3% clip for PATs & went 57-81 with a career long of 53; including 5 FGs in the 2013 Pinstripe Bowl #GoIrish

P: Tyler Newsome had 9909 punting yards on 225 punts (44.0 avg) and a long of 71(!). A mullet that was #ForTheBrand & having the ability to rep 225 30 times at the combine? Newsome was a punters punter #GoIrish

Holder: Montgomery VanGorder @Coach_Gummy. Mortell Award finalist for holder of the year, all time prankster & one of the programs all time favorites. Unanimous selection.