My favorites of the Fighting Irish
Happy St. Patrick's Day to all who celebrate! As an avid Notre Dame Football fan, I wondered what better way to celebrate than to write about my favorite players over the years. I wish I had greater diversity in my position appreciation in this post, but unfortunately (or not unfortunately), most of these players are quarterbacks. Anyway, here are my favorite ND football players from previous years.
#14 DeShone Kizer - QB: 2014-2016
DeShone Kizer was the starting QB for Notre Dame in 2015 and 2016. Standing at 6’4” and weighing 234 lbs, Kizer was a very good QB at Notre Dame. In both of his starting seasons at Notre Dame, he threw for over 2,800 yards. In 2015, he threw for 21 touchdowns, and the following year, he would throw for 26. Kizer could be shaky at times at QB, but while his completion percentage dipped in 2016, his interception number also dropped.
Personally, I believe Kizer should have played one more year in college before going to the NFL. Kizer still needed a season to develop, and one more season could have helped him. Instead, he was drafted by the Cleveland Browns, an organization where QBs go to die. Kizer was eventually signed by the Green Bay Packers and later on by the Tennessee Titans. Kizer, unfortunately, never made it in the NFL, but he was a great QB at Notre Dame.
My favorite memory of DeShone Kizer was watching him play against Stanford in 2016. It was the first Notre Dame game I ever attended, and while Notre Dame lost, it was still a great experience. Kizer was great to watch at Notre Dame, and he will always be in my mind as a great Notre Dame football player.
#12 Ian Book - QB: 2017-2020
One of the more famous Notre Dame players in recent years, quarterback Ian Book, was nothing short of elite at Notre Dame. In three of his four years at Notre Dame, he threw for over 2,000 passing yards and 15 or more touchdowns. His best season came in 2019 when he threw for 3,034 passing yards and 34 touchdowns.
Yes, Book had some eye-popping stats, but he also set a couple of records at Notre Dame. As of right now, Book is the winningest quarterback in Notre Dame Football history. With 30 wins as a starting quarterback, Book is also tied for the most wins as a starting QB at home with a record of 15-0. Book had a record of 30-5 as a starter at Notre Dame, and he trails only Brady Quinn as he finished second in most passing touchdowns and yards in Notre Dame history.
My favorite memory of Book was watching him play against Syracuse in Yankee Stadium on November 17, 2018. In that game, Book threw for 292 yards and two touchdowns in a dominant 36-3 win vs. the Orange.
Ian Book is a Notre Dame legend and certainly one of my favorite Notre Dame players in past years.
#7 Audric Estime - RB: 2021-2023
The Denver Broncos drafted Estime in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL Draft about 11 months ago. I personally thought this pick was a steal, especially because of how lethal Estime was at Notre Dame.
Audric Estime played three seasons for the great Notre Dame Fighting Irish before entering the draft. His third and final year was his best. That season, Estime ran for 1,341 yards and 18 touchdowns on 210 carries. His play earned him a spot on the 2023 Second Team All-American roster. Estime was a powerful and fast running back, and while he didn’t win any playoff games with Notre Dame, he was still amazing to watch play for the Irish.
My favorite Audric Estime moment was a touchdown he had vs. Clemson in Week 10 of the 2023 College Football season.
#7 Brandon Wimbush - QB: 2015-2018
Brandon Wimbush played for the Fighting Irish from 2015 to 2018. He took over as the quarterback in 2017 when DeShone Kizer left for the NFL. Wimbush had his struggles playing for Notre Dame. He was eventually benched and replaced by backup Ian Book, a man who would become the winningest quarterback in Notre Dame history.
I was always a big supporter of Brandon Wimbush, despite his struggles. As an 8-year-old, I hated the fact that we were benching our starter for some “weirdo” named Ian Book (of course, I would come to realize that Ian Book was the better player).
Even still, Brandon Wimbush had some bright spots for Notre Dame. He played hard and supported his team. As a fan, there is nothing you can say to knock that.
In 2019, Wimbush transferred from Notre Dame to UCF. He suited up for only six games and started one of them. Wimbush would not go to the NFL; instead, he now works with an agency he cofounded, which aims to build a social network between athletes and companies for promotional representatives and brand ambassadors.
#19 Justin Yoon - K: 2015-2018
Excellence is the word I use to describe the great Justin Yoon. Yoon is the greatest kicker in Notre Dame history. He holds the record for the all-time leading scorer with 364 points and has the highest career field goal percentage (.797) in Notre Dame history.
Yoon played in South Bend from 2015 to 2018. He was great all four years at Notre Dame, but his best years came in his freshman and senior years. In his freshman year, he had a field goal percentage of 88.2% and totaled 95 points. In his junior year, he totaled 97 points, but his field goal percentage dropped. In his final year, Yoon had a field goal percentage of 81% and totaled 92 points.
The longest field goal Yoon ever hit came in his freshman year when he drilled a field goal from 52 yards.
Unfortunately, Yoon would not make an NFL team, but he is one of my favorite Notre Dame players of all time and one of the greatest kickers in Notre Dame history.
#5 Everett Golson - QB (my favorite player): 2011-2015
Last but certainly not least, my all-time favorite Notre Dame player is Everett Golson. Golson played for the Fighting Irish from 2011 to 2015. I first remember watching him at the age of five, and because Golson was Notre Dame’s quarterback, he instantly became my favorite player. He is the reason why my favorite number is 5.
As a redshirt freshman, Golson led the Irish to a 12-0 record in the regular season and eventually to the BCS National Championship game. To be fair, Golson wasn’t even the best #5 on that team. That player was Manti Te’o, who was a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. The Irish would unfortunately lose in that National Championship game to Nick Saban and Alabama.
The following season, Golson would have an incredible year. He threw for 3,445 passing yards and 29 touchdowns. He did throw more interceptions as well, but his completion percentage was higher than the previous year. Golson would also rush for 283 yards and 8 touchdowns.
Sadly, Golson’s story at Notre Dame does not have a happy ending. He was kicked out for academic dishonesty; he would later admit that he was caught cheating on a test. Golson would transfer to an arch-rival of Notre Dame, Florida State. As a 6-year-old, I couldn’t understand why my favorite player had just left South Bend for the Seminoles at FSU. I was hurt, but Golson never stopped being my favorite player.
Golson’s time at FSU was not memorable, and he would not go on to the NFL. Despite this, he is still my all-time favorite Notre Dame player. He is the reason my favorite number is 5, and he is one of the reasons why I love Notre Dame and Notre Dame Football.
Hope you all enjoyed this article, and Happy St. Patrick's Day.
Go Irish!
