Notre Dame in the NFL: Harrison Smith comes up clutch for Vikings
In what could be his final NFL season, former Notre Dame safety Harrison Smith is still winning games for the Minnesota Vikings.
Clinging to a 14-10 lead, the Vikings had the Colts at 3rd-and-2 with 5:29 left in the fourth quarter. Colts quarterback Joe Flacco dropped back and threw a deep crosser to his right. Smith drove on the football and broke it up, forcing fourth down.
On the ensuing play, Flacco threw in Smith’s direction again. And again, his wide receiver paid the price.
The Vikings scored a touchdown on their next possession, sealing the game. They went on to win 21-13.
In his 13th year in Minnesota, Smith has 49 tackles, a sack, a fumble recovery (which ended Indianapolis’ first drive Sunday night), 5 passes defended and his 35th career interception. A trip to Canton, Ohio might be on the radar for Smith, five years after he hangs up his cleats.
Here’s how every other former Notre Dame football player in the NFL did in Week 9.
Joe Alt (played at Notre Dame from 2021-23), OL, Los Angeles Chargers
Result: 27-10 win over Browns
Playing against star edge rusher Myles Garrett, Alt allowed 4 pressures and 2 sacks. He finished with a 57.6 Pro Football Focus offense grade.
Brandon Aubrey (2013-16), K, Dallas Cowboys
Result: 27-21 loss to Falcons
Aubrey went 2-of-2 on field-goal attempts, including a 57-yarder. He’s made a field goal from 50 or more yards out seven of eight games this year.
Aaron Banks (2017-20), OL, San Francisco 49ers
Result: BYE
JD Bertrand (2019-23), LB, Atlanta Falcons
Result: 27-21 win over Cowboys
Bertrand (concussion) missed Week 9, but he was not placed on injured reserve.
Scott Daly (2012-16), LS, Chicago Bears
Result: 29-9 loss to Cardinals
Daly snapped 7 times successfully, 4 on punts and 3 on field goals.
Sheldon Day (2012-15), DT, Washington Commanders
Result: 27-22 win over Giants
Day made 2 tackles and notched a quarterback pressure.
Liam Eichenberg (2016-20), OL, Miami Dolphins
Result: 30-27 loss to Bills
Eichenberg allowed 1 pressure. He also posted a 67.1 run-blocking grade.
Audric Estimé (2021-23), RB, Denver Broncos
Result: 41-10 loss to Ravens
Estimé rushed 5 times for 35 yards.
Blake Fisher (2021-23), OT, Houston Texans
Result: 21-13 loss to Jets
Fisher played 6 snaps and earned an 81.0 pass-blocking grade, with zero pressures allowed.
Isaiah Foskey (2019-22), DE, New Orleans Saints
Result: 23-22 loss to Panthers
Foskey played 24 snaps on special teams.
Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers
Result: 27-10 win over Browns
Gilman made 5 tackles, including 2 defensive stops. He also made a diving interception, his first of the season, and returned it for 18 yards.
Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints
Result: 23-22 loss to Panthers
Grupe made all 3 of his field-goal attempts, including a 51-yarder.
Robert Hainsey (2017-20), OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Result: 30-24 loss to Chiefs
Hainsey played 4 snaps on special teams.
Kyle Hamilton (2019-21), S, Baltimore Ravens
Result: 41-10 loss to Broncos
Hamilton made 10 tackles, including 7 — yes, seven — defensive stops and a tackle for loss. He earned a PFF run defense grade of 90.0.
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Thomas Harper (2023), DB, Las Vegas Raiders
Result: 41-24 loss to Bengals
Harper played 1 defensive snap and 21 on special teams.
Cam Hart (2019-2023), CB, Los Angeles Chargers
Result: 27-10 win over Browns
Hart struggled in coverage, allowing 5 receptions on 7 targets for 69 yards. However, he also picked up his first career sack. In general, Hart is playing well as a rookie.
Kurt Hinish (2017-21), DT, Houston Texans
Result: 21-13 loss to Jets
Hinish made 1 tackle.
J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers
Result: 23-22 win over Saints
Jansen snapped 9 times successfully, 6 on punts and 3 on field goals.
Brandon Joseph (2022), S, Detroit Lions
Result: 24-14 win over Packers
Joseph tied his career high with 6 tackles.
Cole Kmet (2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears
Result: 29-9 loss to Cardinals
Kmet was not targeted, despite catching 27 of his 30 targets so far this season. He’s on pace for his lowest number of targets since his rookie season — again, despite hauling in 90 percent of them.
Marist Liufau (2019-23), LB, Dallas Cowboys
Result: 27-21 loss to Falcons
Liufau defended a pass and picked up a quarterback pressure.
Julian Love (2016-18), DB, Seattle Seahawks
Result: 26-20 OT loss to Rams
Love made 6 tackles.
Zack Martin (2009-13), OL, Dallas Cowboys
Result: 27-21 loss to Falcons
Martin allowed 3 pressures, including a sack. His PFF offense grade was 57.9.
Nick McCloud (2020), CB, New York Giants
Result: 27-22 loss to Commanders
McCloud played 9 defensive snaps.
Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OL, Denver Broncos
Result: 41-10 loss to Ravens
McGlinchey allowed 1 pressure but finished with a PFF offense grade of 50.1.
Sam Mustipher (2014-18), OL, Los Angeles Chargers
Result: 27-10 win over Browns
The Chargers signed Mustipher from their practice squad to the active roster before Week 9. He played 5 snaps on special teams.
Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OL, Indianapolis Colts
Result: 21-13 loss to Vikings
Nelson allowed 1 pressure and earned a PFF pass-blocking grade of 84.2.
Julian Okwara (2016-19), EDGE, Arizona Cardinals
Result: 29-9 win over Bears
Okwara posted 2 quarterback pressures.
Jarrett Patterson (2018-22), OL, Houston Texans
Result: 21-13 loss to Jets
Patterson missed Week 9 with a concussion.
Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins
Result: 30-27 loss to Bills
Smythe caught his lone target for 4 yards.
Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OL, Baltimore Ravens
Result: 41-10 win over Broncos
Stanley allowed zero pressures and earned a 79.3 PFF pass-blocking grade.
Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DL, Minnesota Vikings
Result: 21-13 win over Colts
Tillery made 3 tackles and notched a QB pressure.
Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Result: 30-24 win over Buccaneers
Tranquill made 7 tackles, including a combined sack.
Tommy Tremble (2018-20), TE, Carolina Panthers
Result: 23-22 win over Saints
Tremble caught 2 of his 3 targets for 13 yards.
Kyren Williams (2019-21), RB, Los Angeles Rams
Result: 26-20 OT win over Seahawks
For the first time all season, Williams did not score a touchdown. He did carry the ball 22 times for 69 yards, and he caught a pass for 26 yards.
Brock Wright (2017-20), TE, Detroit Lions
Result: 24-14 win over Packers
Wright caught his lone target for 1 yard.
Former Notre Dame football players on injured reserve
- Javontae Jean-Baptiste (2023), DE, Washington Commanders
- Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2017-20), LB, Browns
Owusu-Koramoah was hospitalized with a neck injury during the Browns’ 29-24 win over the Ravens on Oct. 27. He was placed on IR on Saturday.
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
- Ade Ogundeji (2016-20), EDGE, Pittsburgh Steelers
- Spencer Shrader (2023), K, New York Jets
- Chris Smith (2022), DT, Detroit Lions
- Equanimeous St. Brown (2015-17), WR, New Orleans Saints
Ogundeji was released from the Steelers’ active roster and re-signed to the practice squad last week.
