Notre Dame in the NFL: Nick McCloud picks up first NFL interception

Playing time has occasionally been hard to come by for former Notre Dame and current New York Giants cornerback Nick McCloud. But in 28 snaps against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, McCloud made a big impact.

McCloud intercepted Commanders quarterback Sam Howell in the first quarter. It was his first career interception and it jump-started a 31-19 Giants win.

Nick McCloud's first career INT!

📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/ATk4ogctR3

— New York Giants (@Giants) November 19, 2023

The 2021 undrafted free agent also forced a fumble, defended a pass and made 4 tackles. He finished with a 91.4 overall grade, which ranked third in the NFL for Week 11. A scan through the website formerly known as Twitter indicates Giants fans like McCloud, whom New York claimed off waivers after he was cut by the Cincinnati Bengals on Aug. 31, 2022.

Whenever Nick McCloud gets on the field he seems to make plays. I don't know what that means for him long term but he was a sneaky good pickup last year https://t.co/h9Qx6wPMGy

— 🅲🆄🆁🆃 (@Introvert_Curt) November 20, 2023

Here’s how every former Notre Dame player in the NFL did in Week 11.

Brandon Aubrey (played for Notre Dame from 2013-16), K, Dallas Cowboys

Result: 33-10 win over Panthers

Aubrey missed an extra point for the first time since Week 1, but the former Notre Dame men’s soccer player remains perfect on field goals this sesaon. He went 2-for-2. 

Aaron Banks (2017-20), OL, San Francisco 49ers

Result: 27-14 win over Buccaneers

Banks allowed two quarterback hits and didn’t grade well in the run game. He finished with a 49.2 overall Pro Football Focus grade.

Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Result: 13-10 loss to Browns

Boykin was not targeted in 6 offensive snaps.

Chase Claypool (2016-19), WR, Miami Dolphins

Result: 20-13 win over Raiders

Claypool is week-to-week, according Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, after undergoing a minor knee procedure during Miami’s Week 10 bye.

Scott Daly (2012-16), LS, Detroit Lions

Result: 31-26 win over Bears

Daly snapped successfully 8 times, 7 on kicks and 1 on a punt.

Liam Eichenberg (2016-20), OL, Miami Dolphins

Result: 20-13 win over Raiders

Eichenberg played one of his better games this season, allowing only 1 pressure and finishing with a 69.1 overall PFF grade.

Isaiah Foskey (2019-22), DE, New Orleans Saints

Result: BYE

Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers 

Result: 23-20 loss to Packers

Gilman made 9 tackles, including 1 for loss. Six of those tackles were defensive stops. He allowed 4 receptions on 4 targets, but for only 26 yards.

Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints

Result: BYE

Robert Hainsey (2017-20), OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Result: 27-14 loss to 49ers

Hainsey allowed 2 pressures but did well as a run blocker. His overall PFF grade was 64.9.

Kyle Hamilton (2019-2021), S, Baltimore Ravens

Result: 34-20 win over Bengals

Hamilton made 3 tackles and defended 2 passes. He added a pressure on 1 of his 4 pass-rush snaps and only gave up 2 catches for 14 yards on 4 targets.

Kurt Hinish (2017-21), DT, Houston Texans

Result: 21-16 win over Cardinals

Hinish added 1 quarterback pressure and graded well (76.8) as a run defender. He plays a consistent 20-30 snaps per game, give or take a few, as a rotational defensive tackle.

J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers

Result: 33-10 loss to Cowboys

Jansen made 8 successful snaps, 6 on punts and 2 on kicks.

Cole Kmet (2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears

Result: 31-26 loss to Lions

Kmet caught 5 passes for 44 yards on 7 targets. Michael Mayer‘s predecessor at Notre Dame having a solid season, epitomizing a good but not great tight end. Good tight ends are hard to come by, which is why the Bears locked him up with a hefty contract extension before the season.

Julian Love (2016-18), DB, Seattle Seahawks

Result: 17-16 loss to Rams

Love made 7 tackles and defended a pass. He gave up 2 receptions on 4 targets for 26 yards.

Zack Martin (2009-13), OL, Dallas Cowboys

Result: 33-10 win over Panthers

Martin allowed 4 pressures and was given a 54.6 overall grade.

Michael Mayer (2020-22), TE, Las Vegas Raiders

Result: 20-13 loss to Dolphins

Mayer caught 4 passes on 5 targets for 46 yards.

Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OL, Denver Broncos

Result: 21-20 win over Vikings

McGlinchey gave up 2 pressures, including a quarterback hit. He was given a 65.2 overall grade.

Sam Mustipher (2014-18), OL, Baltimore Ravens

Result: 34-20 win over Bengals

Mustipher was active but did not play.

Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OL, Indianapolis Colts

Result: BYE

Julian Okwara (2016-19), EDGE, Detroit Lions

Result: 31-26 win over Bears

Okwara totaled 2 quarterback pressures in 10 pass-rush snaps.

Romeo Okwara (2012-15), DL, Detroit Lions 

Result: 31-26 win over Bears

Okwara played 12 snaps but was held off the stat sheet.

Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2017-20), LB, Cleveland Browns 

Result: 13-10 win over Steelers

Owusu-Koramoah, a Rover at Notre Dame, made 7 tackles, including 3 defensive stops. He was also credited with 3 missed tackles.

Jarrett Patterson (2018-22), OL, Houston Texans

Result: 21-16 win over Cardinals

Patterson only allowed 1 pressure but was given a 37.7 pass-blocking grade.

Isaac Rochell (2013-16), DE, free agent

Result: N/A

Rochell was released by the Raiders hours after the team posted a feature video about him.

This is objectively really bad timing. https://t.co/p9LWyB2PH6

— Isaac Christopher Rochell (@isaacrochell91) November 14, 2023

Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams

Result: 17-16 win over Seahawks

Skorwonek was not targeted.

Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins

Result: 20-13 win over Raiders

Smythe missed Week 11 with an ankle injury. He’s not expected to be out long-term.

Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings

Result: 21-20 loss to Broncos

Smith made 5 tackles, including 2 run stops. He was only targeted once, which resuletd in a 1-yard catch.

Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OL, Baltimore Ravens

Result: 34-20 win over Bengals

After suffereing a knee injury in Week 10, Stanley missed Thursday night’s game. It’s another tough break for the 2019 All-Pro and former Top-10 pick out of Notre Dame, who hasn’t been consistently healthy since that season. He was not placed on injured reserve, though.

Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DL, Las Vegas Raiders 

Result: 20-13 loss to Dolphins

Tillery made 2 tackles and added a QB pressure.

Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Kansas City Chiefs 

Result: 21-17 loss to Eagles

Tranquill made 7 tackles, including a tackle for loss and 3 run stops. He was targeted 4 times, and he allowed 3 receptions for 22 yards.

Tommy Tremble (2018-20), TE, Carolina Panthers 

Result: 33-10 loss to Cowboys

Tremble caught a 4-yard touchdown pass, his third of the season.

Kyren Williams (2019-21), RB Los Angeles Rams

Result: 17-16 win over Seahawks

Williams has been on IR since Week 6, but according to Rams head coach Sean McVay, he is expected to return in Week 12. Williams was one of the most productive backs in football when he played this season, and certainly the most productive out of Notre Dame. He has 97 carries for 456 yards and 6 touchdowns.

Brock Wright (2017-20), TE, Detroit Lions

Result: 31-26 win over Bears

Wright was not targeted.