My take on the best players at each position during the BK era (2010-present). * (asterisks) by the best players on the all time BK team.
Thoughts?
QB
Deshone Kizer - most complete player at the position (intangibles, athlete, passer, runner, etc.)
Everett Golson - enigmatic career but very good when "on"
Tommy Rees - put Rees' mind into any of the above player's bodies and he would be the best player on this list
HB
Theo Riddick - got better and better as the '12 season carried on.
Cierre Wood - one of the best player's on the offense during the early part of the BK era
Tarean Folston (pre injury) - Complete back/beast in 13 & 14
Jonas Gray (honorable mention) - earned more and more carries as the 2011 season wore on and became a big NFL prospect prior to tearing his knee that year. one of the biggest misfortunes/stories that went virtually unrecognized.
WR
Mike Floyd* - stud
Will Fuller* - stud
TJ Jones* - big senior season / materialized into true #1
Davaris Daniels - Nice compliment/#2 to Floyd then TJ Jones
EQ St Brown - still young super bright future
Chris Brown - nice #2 to Will Fuller in latter seasons
Tori Hunter Jr - battling injuries since he was recruited but otherwise a really solid player
TE
Tyler Eifert* - might be the best player on this list. His redzone and 3rd down catches were always in high leverage situations. add in his rags to riches story (low 3 star, career threatening back injury, etc.) and it's easy to be a fan.
Troy Niklas - mauler / bear out on the edge of the offense. loved watching him pancake the opposition -- then became a sure handed receiver during his final year with the team.
Kyle Rudolph - only played 1 season under Kelly but had a really good year.
OL
Zack Martin*
Ronnie Stanley*
Chris Watt
Nick Martin
Quenton Nelson
Mike McGlinchey
Trevor Robinson
DL
Stephon Tuitt*
Ian Williams
Aaron Lynch*
Louis Nix III
Sheldon Day
Kapron Lewis Moore
Isaac Rochell
LB
Manti Te'o* - embodies everything ND represents (high character and excellence on and off the field)
Jaylon Smith* - super rangey athlete, the type of talent that comes around once in a decade at ND on the defensive side of the ball
Prince Shembo - Great all around defender who offered a ton of pass rush at the position
Darius Fleming - Best LB during the transition to the Manti Te'o era
Nyles Morgan - still don't know how he didn't see the field over Schmidt in 2015
Dan Fox - very underrated career
CB
Kei Russell* - a god send from heaven .. started as a Fr when ND was out of players due to injury heading into 2012 and was the best player at the position the next 3/4 years.
Bennett Jackson - god send #2 .. transitioned from WR to Special Teams to best CB on the team over the last half decade.
Cole Luke - solid everyday corner during the BVG era
Robert Blanton - another solid corner that played reliably and saw a ton of snaps over his career
S
Harrison Smith* - criminally over scrutinized in the face of massive production his entire career at ND
Zeke Motta* - solid athlete / reliable every down player
Elijah Shumate - solid versatile player (played some corner early in his career)
Max Redfield - criminally over scrutinized poised for a BIG year in 2016
Mathias Farley - fan favorite, clutch player, seemingly involved in every big play. Low rated recruit that grinded hard for opportunity/playing time, and despite his lack of athleticism produced and came up big in big situations. personal favorite player of mine.
Thoughts?
QB
Deshone Kizer - most complete player at the position (intangibles, athlete, passer, runner, etc.)
Everett Golson - enigmatic career but very good when "on"
Tommy Rees - put Rees' mind into any of the above player's bodies and he would be the best player on this list
HB
Theo Riddick - got better and better as the '12 season carried on.
Cierre Wood - one of the best player's on the offense during the early part of the BK era
Tarean Folston (pre injury) - Complete back/beast in 13 & 14
Jonas Gray (honorable mention) - earned more and more carries as the 2011 season wore on and became a big NFL prospect prior to tearing his knee that year. one of the biggest misfortunes/stories that went virtually unrecognized.
WR
Mike Floyd* - stud
Will Fuller* - stud
TJ Jones* - big senior season / materialized into true #1
Davaris Daniels - Nice compliment/#2 to Floyd then TJ Jones
EQ St Brown - still young super bright future
Chris Brown - nice #2 to Will Fuller in latter seasons
Tori Hunter Jr - battling injuries since he was recruited but otherwise a really solid player
TE
Tyler Eifert* - might be the best player on this list. His redzone and 3rd down catches were always in high leverage situations. add in his rags to riches story (low 3 star, career threatening back injury, etc.) and it's easy to be a fan.
Troy Niklas - mauler / bear out on the edge of the offense. loved watching him pancake the opposition -- then became a sure handed receiver during his final year with the team.
Kyle Rudolph - only played 1 season under Kelly but had a really good year.
OL
Zack Martin*
Ronnie Stanley*
Chris Watt
Nick Martin
Quenton Nelson
Mike McGlinchey
Trevor Robinson
DL
Stephon Tuitt*
Ian Williams
Aaron Lynch*
Louis Nix III
Sheldon Day
Kapron Lewis Moore
Isaac Rochell
LB
Manti Te'o* - embodies everything ND represents (high character and excellence on and off the field)
Jaylon Smith* - super rangey athlete, the type of talent that comes around once in a decade at ND on the defensive side of the ball
Prince Shembo - Great all around defender who offered a ton of pass rush at the position
Darius Fleming - Best LB during the transition to the Manti Te'o era
Nyles Morgan - still don't know how he didn't see the field over Schmidt in 2015
Dan Fox - very underrated career
CB
Kei Russell* - a god send from heaven .. started as a Fr when ND was out of players due to injury heading into 2012 and was the best player at the position the next 3/4 years.
Bennett Jackson - god send #2 .. transitioned from WR to Special Teams to best CB on the team over the last half decade.
Cole Luke - solid everyday corner during the BVG era
Robert Blanton - another solid corner that played reliably and saw a ton of snaps over his career
S
Harrison Smith* - criminally over scrutinized in the face of massive production his entire career at ND
Zeke Motta* - solid athlete / reliable every down player
Elijah Shumate - solid versatile player (played some corner early in his career)
Max Redfield - criminally over scrutinized poised for a BIG year in 2016
Mathias Farley - fan favorite, clutch player, seemingly involved in every big play. Low rated recruit that grinded hard for opportunity/playing time, and despite his lack of athleticism produced and came up big in big situations. personal favorite player of mine.
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