We’re under 12 weeks until Notre Dame football is slated to return with their first trip to Annapolis. Another day down, still seemingly forever to go.
Yesterday we counted down by looking back at a memory from the last time Notre Dame’s football team stepped on the field.
Today we look back at two of the better wide receivers that have ever worn blue and gold.
83: A tip of the cap to Jeff Samardzija and Chase Claypool
It’s a short list of receivers who have ever attended Notre Dame that were as good as Jeff Samardzija was in his four years. His 27 touchdown receptions are the third-most in program history, as are his 2593 yards. What’s absurd is that every touchdown and almost every yard came in only two seasons before fast-tempo offenses were really a thing. Looking back, Samardzija was probably the best player on a fantastic offense between ’05 and ’06.
Chase Claypool was similar to Samardzija in that he wasn’t a star from the start but once he got going he was an absolute stud. He finished his Notre Dame career with 19 touchdown receptions, 13 of which came in his senior year, with both ranking in Notre Dame’s all-time top ten. Claypool became a Pittsburgh Steeler in the second round of this year’s NFL Draft.
Neither will be in the discussion of “best player ever” or probably even “best receiver ever” at Notre Dame, but both are sky-high on my list for favorites.
83 days. Let’s go!