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Notre Dame Football: Which Irish alumnus would have biggest impact in 2020?

By Ben Belden

SOUTH BEND, ID - NOVEMBER 05: Safety Tom Zbikowski #9 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish breaks away on a punt return as Antonio Reynolds #89, Demetrice Morley #20 and Brad Cottam #86 of the University of Tennessee Volunteers close in on November 5, 2005 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Tennessee 41-21. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, ID - NOVEMBER 05: Safety Tom Zbikowski #9 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish breaks away on a punt return as Antonio Reynolds #89, Demetrice Morley #20 and Brad Cottam #86 of the University of Tennessee Volunteers close in on November 5, 2005 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Tennessee 41-21. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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2. Tom Zbikowski, Safety

SOUTH BEND, ID – NOVEMBER 05: Safety Tom Zbikowski #9 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish breaks away on a punt return as Antonio Reynolds #89, Demetrice Morley #20 and Brad Cottam #86 of the University of Tennessee Volunteers close in on November 5, 2005 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Tennessee 41-21. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, ID – NOVEMBER 05: Safety Tom Zbikowski #9 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish breaks away on a punt return as Antonio Reynolds #89, Demetrice Morley #20 and Brad Cottam #86 of the University of Tennessee Volunteers close in on November 5, 2005 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame defeated Tennessee 41-21. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Tom Zbikowski is, without a doubt, one of the most beloved players in recent Notre Dame history. The Irish safety was electric in South Bend on the back end of the Irish defense.

Zbikowski wasn’t only a hard-hitting safety that would fill the void of Alohi Gillman, but was absolutely electric when get got the ball in his hands, whether after an interception or on a punt return. During his four seasons in South Bend, Zbikowski found the endzone 7 times. Three of those times came off of punt returns, two off of interception returns, and two off of punt returns.

Who could forget his two-touchdown game against Tennessee or his punt return just before halftime of the infamous “Bush Push” game against USC? Zbikowski always came up big for the Irish at the biggest moments.

Adding Zbikowski to a secondary that features the talented sophomore Kyle Hamilton would be great for Notre Dame and even more fun for its fans.

Much like Jaylon Smith, Zbikowski would likely benefit from a new regime. Notre Dame’s defense now certainly was better than what it was in the mid-2000’s. Who knows what type of impact that Zbikowski could have for Notre Dame’s defense (and its return game) in 2020?

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