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Notre Dame football: Former Irish who deserve to be in CFB HOF

By Daniel Morrison

Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn drops back to pass during 44-24 loss to USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calif. on Saturday, November 25, 2006. Quinn was 22 of 45 for 274 yards and three touchdowns. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images)
Notre Dame quarterback Brady Quinn drops back to pass during 44-24 loss to USC at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, Calif. on Saturday, November 25, 2006. Quinn was 22 of 45 for 274 yards and three touchdowns. (Photo by Kirby Lee/Getty Images) /
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Notre Dame football
Todd Lyght during his Notre Dame football days. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) /

Two Notre Dame football players to start with

Todd Lyght

One of the best, if not the best, defensive backs in school history, Todd Lyght played at Notre Dame from 1987-1990. During that time, he was a two-time consensus All-American and was a part of the 1988 National Championship team. Despite only being a sophomore, Lyght played a major role in that National Championship team, leading the Irish in tackles during their Fiesta Bowl win over West Virginia.

The next season, in 1989, Lyght would be a finalist for the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the best defensive back in the country.

Lyght finished his time at Notre Dame with 161 tackles, 11 interceptions, and 20.5 pass breakups. An outstanding athlete, Lyght would go on to be a top-5 NFL Draft pick. Those 11 interceptions are 9th all-time at Notre Dame, while his eight interception season in 1989 is tied for third all-time for a single season at Notre Dame.

Jeff Faine

A center at  Notre Dame from 1999-2002, Jeff Faine has had a career widely underappreciated after the fact, in no small part since he played at the end of the Bob Davie and start of the Tyrone Willingham eras. Faine was a first-team All-American for the 2002 season, setting the tone for the Irish attack.

A three-year starter, Faine had 35 starts for Notre Dame and won the Nick Pietrosante Award, which is voted on by his teammates.

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