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Notre Dame Football: Top-25 players of the Brian Kelly era

By Daniel Morrison

SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 07: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish leads his team out of the tunnel before the game against the Clemson Tigers at Notre Dame Stadium on November 7, 2020 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Matt Cashore-Pool/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - NOVEMBER 07: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish leads his team out of the tunnel before the game against the Clemson Tigers at Notre Dame Stadium on November 7, 2020 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Matt Cashore-Pool/Getty Images) /
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Notre Dame football star Harrison Smith. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Notre Dame football star Harrison Smith. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Notre Dame Football: Top-25 players of the Brian Kelly era

16. Harrison Smith, LB/S, 2008-11

  • 307 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 7 INTs, 1 fumble recovery, 3 forced fumbles

Harrison Smith spent time under two Notre Dame coaches, Charlie Weis and Brian Kelly, meaning he barely qualified to make this list. However, with his dominant junior season coming under Brian Kelly, it would be impossible to ignore Smith’s career.

All seven interceptions in Smith’s career came during the 2010 season, which was tied for the sixth-most in Notre Dame history for a single season.

A captain as a senior in 2011, Smith is “The only player in Irish football history to register more than 200 tackles, 15 tackles for loss, and 15 pass breakups in a career.” He did so, largely due to his success in moving from linebacker to safety during his time at Notre Dame.

Upon leaving Notre Dame, Smith would be drafted in the first round by the Minnesota Vikings where he has been one of the best safeties in football.

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