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Notre Dame Football: Top 10 Players of the Brian Kelly Era

By Jack Leniart

PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 07: Jaylon Smith #9 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates by wearing the hat of team mascot, Lucky The Leprechaun, following their 42-30 win against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Heinz Field on November 7, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - NOVEMBER 07: Jaylon Smith #9 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates by wearing the hat of team mascot, Lucky The Leprechaun, following their 42-30 win against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Heinz Field on November 7, 2015 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images) /
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Notre Dame football
SOUTH BEND, IN – NOVEMBER 19: DeShone Kizer #14 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish passes against the Virginia Tech Hokies at Notre Dame Stadium on November 19, 2016 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photoby Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

8. DeShone Kizer, QB

As you may have guessed, Kizer is the lone quarterback on this list. This is something that will surely irk Notre Dame football fans. I’m not saying I should have included another quarterback. It’s just that Notre Dame hasn’t produced any other highly-rated draft prospects at this position recently.

Kizer burst onto the scene in dramatic fashion in 2015. He entered the season as a backup, but assumed the starting role when Malik Zaire suffered a season-ending injury in the second game of the year.

Kizer would go on to throw a game-winning touchdown pass in that game and lead the Irish to a 10-2 season and a trip to the Fiesta Bowl. Then the NFL scouts fell in love with him.

At 6′ 4″ 230 lbs, he had a prototypical NFL quarterback frame. He could make all the throws and was also a threat to run the ball, which made him a perfect fit in the Notre Dame offense.

Notre Dame football
EAST LANSING, MI – SEPTEMBER 15: Le’Veon Bell #24 of the Michigan State Spartans tries to get around the tackle of KeiVarae Russell #6 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish during a first quarter run at Spartan Stadium Stadium on September 15, 2012 in East Lansing, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

7. KeiVarae Russell, CB

It takes a special breed of player to play cornerback. It takes an even more special breed to be ready to play cornerback at the collegiate level as a freshman. That’s what KeiVarae Russell did in 2012.

Russell had an opportunity to earn the starting job as a true freshman and he seized it. KeiVarpe Diem! He would go on to start every game of the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

After serving a one-year suspension in 2014, Russell rejoined the team for the 2015 season and started ten games before his season was cut short due to an injury.

Russell was selected in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft — becoming the highest Notre Dame draft pick at cornerback since Bobby Taylor in 1995.

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