My Favorite Notre Dame Football Player: Jeff Samardzija

Jeff Samardzija was a key member of the Irish during the mid 2000s, and my favorite Notre Dame football player of all-time.

I’ve been watching Notre Dame football for about 20 years now. I still remember the first time I saw them play: October of 1999, watching with my grandfather, I was only 4, but Notre Dame’s comeback against USC is what brought me in.

I’ve watched a lot of Fighting Irish football.

By 2005, I was a hardcore fan. I tried not to miss a game, and Notre Dame was once again becoming an elite team. Of course, Brady Quinn was great, as Carlee pointed out, but there was another guy that jumped out at me, for one handed catches and his ability to get any ball: Quinn’s top target, Jeff Samardzija.

Samardzija had some nice moments in his two seasons on campus prior to 2005, including a 5 catch, 86 yard performance against Oregon State in the 2004 Insight Bowl. But once Quinn’s top target Rhema McKnight blew out his knee in a victory the following season against Michigan, someone was going to have to step up.

It turns out two guys stepped up, Jeff Samardzija and Maurice Stovall.

Samardzija’s coming out party was a loss to Michigan State, where he recorded 6 catches for 96 yards and three touchdowns. Before that, he had 2 touchdowns in 12 career games.

He followed that up with 164 yards against Washington, and then 153 the following week against Purdue.

He finished his career as one of the best receivers in Irish history. He’s 3rd in Irish history with 179 catches, including ranking 4th (2006) and 5th (2005) in single season receptions. He’s 3rd in career receiving yards with 2593. He’s 3rd with 27 touchdowns, as well. That’s consistency.

He’s got many career highlights: the catch against UCLA in 2006 was the best play of the Charlie Weis era. A one handed catch that I mentioned earlier,  which in my memory, was the first time I’d ever seen such a thing.

While he was lighting up the football field in fall, he was doing the same on the baseball diamond in spring. He did well enough to be drafted by the Cubs in the 5th round of the 2006 MLB draft.

He ultimately chose baseball, closing the book on a great football career. It’s hard to say Samardzija made the wrong choice — he’s been in the majors for over 12 years and made over $100 million.

I always think what could have been had he stuck with football. I have no doubt he would have been a first round pick. He had an unlimited ceiling.

In his limited time, The Shark, as he’s known, left a huge impression on fans and the history of Notre Dame Football. I hope Samardzija does return to Notre Dame in some capacity when he’s done with baseball, whether it’s as a baseball coach or football coach.

He’s one of the best to ever lace up a pair of cleats in South Bend, and he’ll always have a home at Notre Dame.