Notre Dame Football All-Decade Team: Safety

Harrison Smith (2007-2011)

Even with only two years of playing time in this decade, Smith is the obvious choice for the top spot on this list. Over 180 tackles combined in both seasons, 7 interceptions in 2010, 16 pass breakups combined, and that is all after switching from safety to linebacker and back to safety throughout his college career. Let’s just say Brian Kelly made the right decision in moving him back.

Take his whole career and he wracked up over 307 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and 20 pass breakups, but it was an odd career. All of his sacks came during his redshirt-freshman season while at linebacker, and all of his interceptions came during his 2010 season. Even with the incredible numbers and the elite athletic profile he possessed, Smith left Notre Dame with Irish fans seemingly wanting more — and he’s proved he left early.

He was a first round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in the 2012 draft, and has been a starter ever since. Smith has made the pro bowl in five straight seasons, and that also includes a first team All-Pro nod in 2017. In that same year, Smith was also graded out by Pro Football Focus as the third best player in all of football, while receiving the highest grade ever by a safety. At this point, Smith is considered one of the best if not the best safety in the NFL and is well on his way to a Hall of Fame nod. In his 8 NFL seasons, he has 658 tackles, 13 sacks, 37 TFLs, 23 INTs, 4 defensive touchdowns on top of many other impressive statistics and awards.

Harrison Smith and Jalen Elliott get the nod for First Team All-Decade Safety.