Notre Dame in the NFL: Drue Tranquill helps Chiefs stay perfect
Superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes was the Kansas City Chiefs’ second-highest-graded player in their 27-20 road win over the Raiders on Sunday, according to Pro Football Focus. No. 1 was former Notre Dame linebacker Drue Tranquill.
Tranquill finished with a PFF defense grade of 85.1. He earned that by making 6 tackles, including a sack and 4 defensive stops, as well as recovering a fumble as Kansas City improved to 7-0.
Tranquill also allowed only 1 reception for 7 yards in the Chiefs’ victory.
A rotational player last year, Tranquill re-signed with Kansas City over the offseason and has started all 7 games. He’s third on the team with 38 tackles so far this season, and he’s also tied for second with 4 tackles for loss.
Here’s how every other former Notre Dame football player did in Week 8.
Joe Alt (played at Notre Dame from 2021-23), OL, Los Angeles Chargers
Result: 26-8 win over Saints
Alt allowed zero quarterback pressures, earning a PFF pass-blocking grade of 81.9.
Brandon Aubrey (2013-16), K, Dallas Cowboys
Result: 30-24 loss to 49ers
Aubrey made his lone field-goal attempt from 29 yards out.
Aaron Banks (2017-20), OL, San Francisco 49ers
Result: 30-24 win over Cowboys
Banks allowed 2 pressures and finished with a PFF offense grade of 56.9.
JD Bertrand (2019-23), LB, Atlanta Falcons
Result: 31-26 win over Buccaneers
Bertrand made 2 tackles, including a defensive stop (a tackle that results in a failure for the offense).
Scott Daly (2012-16), LS, Chicago Bears
Result: 18-15 loss to Cowboys
Daly snapped 8 times successfully, 7 on punts and 1 on a field goal.
Sheldon Day (2012-15), DT, Washington Commanders
Result: 18-15 win over Bears
Day notched a QB pressure.
Liam Eichenberg (2016-20), OL, Miami Dolphins
Result: 28-27 loss to Cardinals
Eichenberg allowed no pressures and earned a pass-blocking grade of 83.2.
Audric Estimé (2021-23), RB, Denver Broncos
Result: 28-14 win over Panthers
Estimé rushed once for 4 yards.
Blake Fisher (2021-23), OT, Houston Texans
Result: 23-20 win over Colts
Fisher played 5 snaps on special teams.
Isaiah Foskey (2019-22), DE, New Orleans Saints
Result: 26-8 loss to Chargers
Foskey played 30 snaps on special teams but only 1 on defense.
Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers
Result: 26-8 win over Saints
Gilman made 5 tackles.
Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints
Result: 26-8 loss to Chargers
Grupe went 2-of-3 on field goals, hitting from 40 and 43 yards but missing from 44.
Robert Hainsey (2017-20), OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Result: 31-26 loss to Falcons
Hainsey played 4 snaps on special teams.
Kyle Hamilton (2019-21), S, Baltimore Ravens
Result: 29-24 loss to Browns
Thomas Harper (2023), DB, Las Vegas Raiders
Result: 27-20 loss to Chiefs
Harper played 9 snaps on defense.
Cam Hart (2019-2023), CB, Los Angeles Chargers
Result: 26-8 win over Saints
Hart made 5 tackles and allowed only 1 catch on 4 targets for 15 yards in coverage.
Kurt Hinish (2017-21), DT, Houston Texans
Result: 23-20 win over Colts
Hinish made 2 tackles.
J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers
Result: 28-14 loss to Broncos
Jansen snapped 7 times successfully, 5 on punts and 2 on field goals.
Brandon Joseph (2022), S, Detroit Lions
Result: 52-14 win over Titans
Joseph made 1 tackle.
Cole Kmet (2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears
Result: 18-15 loss to Commanders
Kmet caught his lone target for 14 yards.
Marist Liufau (2019-23), LB, Dallas Cowboys
Result: 30-24 loss to 49ers
Liufau made 2 tackles.
Julian Love (2016-18), DB, Seattle Seahawks
Result: 31-10 loss to Bills
Love made 4 tackles.
Zack Martin (2009-13), OL, Dallas Cowboys
Result: 30-24 loss to 49ers
Martin allowed 1 pressure, and he posted a 74.1 PFF pass-blocking grade.
Nick McCloud (2020), CB, New York Giants
Result: 26-18 win over Giants
McCloud made a season-high 6 tackles, but he also gave up 3 receptions for 52 yards on 3 targets in coverage.
Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OL, Denver Broncos
Result: 28-14 win over Panthers
McGlinchey allowed no pressures and earned a 79.1 PFF offense grade.
Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OL, Indianapolis Colts
Result: 23-20 loss to Texans
Nelson allowed 1 pressure, and he earned a 78.4 run-blocking grade.
Julian Okwara (2016-19), EDGE, Arizona Cardinals
Result: 28-27 win over Dolphins
Okwara made 1 tackle.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2017-20), LB, Browns
Result: 29-24 win over Ravens
Owusu-Koramoah made 7 tackles (including 3 stops) and registered 2 quarterback hits, including a sack.
In much more serious news, the former Notre Dame rover was carted off the field and hospitalized after a frightening neck injury. Fortunately, is not believed to be a long-term absence — the Browns did not put him on injured reserve — but Owusu-Koramoah has been ruled out for Week 9.
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Jarrett Patterson (2018-22), OL, Houston Texans
Result: 23-20 win over Colts
Patterson played 10 snaps at left guard, earning an 81.2 offense grade and giving up zero pressures.
Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings
Result: 30-20 loss to Rams
Smith made 8 tackles, including a tackle for loss and 3 defensive stops.
Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins
Result: 28-27 loss to Cardinals
Smythe was not targeted.
Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OL, Baltimore Ravens
Result: 29-24 loss to Browns
Stanley allowed 5 pressures, finishing with a 50.1 PFF offense grade.
Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DL, Minnesota Vikings
Result: 30-20 loss to Rams
Tillery tallied 1 quarterback pressure and made 1 tackle.
Tommy Tremble (2018-20), TE, Carolina Panthers
Result: 28-14 loss to Broncos
Making his return from a two-week concussion absence, Tremble caught 2 of his 3 targets for 13 yards.
Kyren Williams (2019-21), RB, Los Angeles Rams
Result: 30-20 win over Vikings
Williams carried 23 times for 97 yards (4.2 Y/A) and caught 5 of his 7 targets for 19 yards and a touchdown. He’s reached the end zone in 10-straight games.
Brock Wright (2017-20), TE, Detroit Lions
Result: 52-14 win over Titans
Wright scored his first touchdown of the season, catching his lone target for an 8-yard score.
Former Notre Dame football players on injured reserve
- Javontae Jean-Baptiste (2023), DE, Washington Commanders
- Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Former Notre Dame football players on the reserve/non-football illness list
- Michael Mayer (2020-22), TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Former Notre Dame players on NFL practice squads
- Kevin Austin Jr. (2018-21), WR, New Orleans Saints
- Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Seattle Seahawks
- Sam Hartman (2023), QB, Washington Commanders
- Khalid Kareem (2016-19), DE, Atlanta Falcons
- Sam Mustipher (2014-18), OL, Los Angeles Chargers
- Spencer Shrader (2023), K, New York Jets
- Chris Smith (2022), DT, Detroit Lions
- Equanimeous St. Brown (2015-17), WR, New Orleans Saints
The Colts released Shrader, but he signed to the Jets’ practice squad Wednesday along with fellow free-agent kicker Riley Patterson. The Jets will sign either Shrader or Patterson to the active roster ahead of their matchup with the Texans on Sunday, replacing the injured Greg Zuerlein.
Zuerlein had been struggling, so this is a big week for Shrader as he looks to establish himself in the NFL.
