Notre Dame Football: 10 Best Players in Fighting Irish's History

Considering the tradition of Notre Dame football, there's no shortage of historically great players to walk the halls in South Bend. Picking the best 10 is no easy task.

Factors included All-American nods, top-10 Heisman Trophy finishes and school records. In other words, only collegiate excellence was considered for the list.

NFL accolades or draft success may be mentioned for additional information about a player but did not affect the ranking.

Please add your favorite Notre Dame players in the comments section.

Ken MacAfee, Tight End

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Earl Campbell and Ken MacAfee

"I probably had the worst recruiting trip ever at Notre Dame," Ken MacAfee told Mike Monaco of the Observer, mentioning the "terrible" and "miserable" weather.

Good thing the hockey and basketball wins as well as a football championship banquet that MacAfee attended during his visit persuaded the tight end to sign.

MacAfee earned a spot on three All-American teams, including consensus honors in 1976 and 1977—the year he finished third in Heisman voting and won the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.

In total, MacAfee—who earned a place in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1997—had 128 receptions for 1,759 yards and 15 touchdowns.

Tony Rice, Quarterback

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Tony Rice didn't pass often, but the quarterback was an integral part of Notre Dame's 1988 national championship.

He scampered for team-best marks of 700 yards and nine touchdowns, managing 1,176 yards and eight scores through the air. Rice threw for two scores during the Irish's Fiesta Bowl win over West Virginia.

Plus, Rice guided the Irish to a 23-game winning streak that ended in 1989, when Rice secured the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award.

For his career, Rice had 1,921 yards and 23 touchdowns on the ground as well as 2,961 yards and 11 scores through the air.

Joe Montana, Quarterback

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Joe Montana saw limited action in 1975 before a shoulder injury kept the quarterback off the field in 1976. He certainly made up for lost time as a redshirt junior in 1977.

After rising up the depth chart, he guided Notre Dame to a national championship that year. Montana tallied 1,604 passing yards and 11 touchdowns, and also ran for six scores.

In 1978, he accumulated 2,010 yards and 10 touchdowns while again finding the end zone six times as a runner. The Irish finished 9-3, capped by Montana's "Chicken Soup Game" and Cotton Bowl comeback win over Houston.

Montana—whose 4,121 career passing yards ranked third at the time—later won four Super Bowls with the San Francisco 49ers.

Raghib "Rocket" Ismail, Wide Receiver

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Rocket Ismail is one of the greatest playmakers in Notre Dame history.

The 1990 campaign, when he finished second in Heisman voting, was his best. Ismail ran for 537 yards and three touchdowns, adding 32 receptions, 699 yards and two scores.

Ismail—who also returned a kickoff for a touchdown that year—took home the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award and was a consensus All-American.

He amassed 4,187 all-purpose yards and 15 total scores in his Notre Dame career, and also helped the Irish win the 1988 title and finished 10th in 1989 Heisman voting.

Leon Hart, Tight End/Defensive End

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The third of seven Fighting Irish players to win the Heisman trophy, Leon Hart was a two-way standout.

In addition to starring at defensive end—where he pounced on eight fumbles—the tight end snared 49 passes for 751 yards and 13 touchdowns in four years at Notre Dame.

Legendary head coach Frank Leahy told Collier's magazine (h/t Richard Goldstein of the New York Times) that one particular score against USC was "the most destructive run I've ever seen."

Hart was a three-time All-American and earned a pair of consensus nods, while Heisman and Maxwell honors helped Hart win the 1949 AP Male Athlete of the Year.

Ross Browner, Defensive End

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Ross Browner was a four-year starter for the Irish, and the defensive end is one of their most-decorated players, too.

A two-time consensus All-American, Browner secured the 1976 Outland Trophy as well as the 1977 Maxwell and Lombardi awards. He also finished fifth in 1977 Heisman voting.

During both the 1976 and 1977 seasons, the now-defunct UPI Lineman of the Year award went to Browner.

He accumulated 340 tackles with 77 for loss, chipping in eight fumble recoveries, two blocked kicks and two safeties.

George Gipp, Running Back

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George Gipp did a little bit of everything for Notre Dame, thrice leading the team in rushing and passing.

He earned consensus All-American honors in 1920, scampering for a career-high 827 yards, scoring a personal-best eight touchdowns and adding 16 extra points.

According to the school, Gipp's 2,341 rushing yards stood as a record for 58 years. He threw eight touchdowns, intercepted five passes and even averaged 38.4 yards as a punter.

Gipp died of strep throat in December 1920, following his senior season.

Paul Hornung, Quarterback

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Paul Hornung contributed in practically every manner.

A quarterback, running back, defensive back and kicker, he achieved a pair of top-five Heisman finishes, lifting the trophy in 1956. Hornung totaled 1,337 yards, six rushing touchdowns, two interceptions and 14 extra points that year.

In 1955, he was a consensus All-American. Hornung threw for 743 yards and nine touchdowns, added 472 yards on the ground, intercepted five passes and managed 11 points as a kicker in 1955.

Hornung was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1985, and reached the Pro Football Hall of Fame a year later.

Tim Brown, Wide Receiver

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Despite playing receiver in 1987's run-focused offense, Tim Brown still managed to collect 39 receptions for 846 yards. That was the basis of his Heisman resume.

Brown also returned three punts for touchdowns and added one score as a runner that year. He notched just under 20 yards per kick return, too.

A consensus All-American that season, Brown claimed the Walter Camp Player of the Year Award.

For his career, Brown had 137 catches, 2,493 yards and 12 touchdowns with a total of 5,024 all-purpose yards.

Johnny Lujack, Quarterback/Defensive Back

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Johnny Lujack helped Notre Dame win a national championship in 1943. Then, he served in World War II. Lujack returned to South Bend, guided the Irish to two more titles.

After finishing third in 1946 Heisman voting, Lujack secured the trophy in 1947 as well as the AP Athlete of the Year award. He was a consensus All-American during both seasons.

Though no stats are available, Lujack also contributed at defensive back.

Lujack ended his career with 2,080 passing yards and 21 total touchdowns, later earning a spot in the College Football Hall of Fame in 1960.