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.

#Vikings

Harrison Smith.

Good clip here for young safeties learning the game.

Smith opens to the outside vertical with eyes on the QB. That allows him to protect the post + drive on the crosser. pic.twitter.com/rof7D6ge6t

— Matt Bowen (@MattBowen41) November 4, 2024

On the ensuing play, Flacco threw in Smith’s direction again. And again, his wide receiver paid the price.

Harrison Smith with a big hit to force the incomplete pass on 4th down. @Vikings ball!

📺: #INDvsMIN on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/a5YAUDXu3j

— NFL (@NFL) November 4, 2024

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.

alohi crew stand up!!

📺 | @nfloncbs pic.twitter.com/G6U0fiuHva

— Los Angeles Chargers (@chargers) November 3, 2024

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.

Kyle Hamilton is one of the best football players in the NFL. Top 10 regardless of position!

— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) November 3, 2024

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.

Harbaugh on Tarheeb Still + Cam Hart: "These two rookie corners are really good. What I see out of them is better, better, better. Building, building, building."

Mentions CB being one of the harder positions to play as a rookie.

Credits DBs coach Steve Clinkscale with their…

— Alex Insdorf (@alexinsdorf99) November 3, 2024

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.