Two years we ago we debuted the 18 Stripes Hall of Fame Pyramid for Notre Dame football and its extensive history of wonderful talent. You can read the final rankings from 2019 HERE with links to the previous levels of the pyramid linked therein.
We’re now adding players who have left Notre Dame since the conclusion of the 2019 season. Next up to be inducted is yet again another winner of the best college football linebacker award.
187. Anthony Denman, LB, Lufkin, Texas (1997-2000)
173. Te’von Coney, LB, Palm Beach Gardens, Florida (2015-18)
169. Kinnon Tatum, LB, Fayetteville, North Carolina (1993-96)
149. Drue Tranquill, LB, Fort Wayne, Indiana (2014-18)
142. Courtney Watson, LB, Sarasota, Florida (1999-2003)
136. Kory Minor, LB, Inglewood, California (1995-98)
111. Jim Carroll, LB, Atlanta, Georgia (1962-64)
58. Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Hampton, Virginia (2017-20)
55. Jaylon Smith, LB, Fort Wayne, Indiana (2013-15)
46. Michael Stonebreaker, LB, River Ridge, Louisiana (1986-90)
24. Bob Golic, LB, Cleveland, Ohio (1975-78)
21. Manti Te’o, LB, Honolulu, Hawaii (2009-12)
19. Bob Crable, LB, Cincinnati, Ohio (1978-81)
16. Jim Lynch, LB, Lima, Ohio (1964-66)
JOK was a late flip in the recruiting process during the 2017 cycle as a safety or athlete, depending on where you looked. However, Notre Dame always had plans for him to play linebacker and we can safely say this worked out really well for everyone involved.
His career got off to a rocky start with an injury leading up to his freshman season and then again after just a couple games in 2018. The word from campus was that JOK was a budding star* with elite athleticism and it was only a matter of time before he began to make a big, big impact for the Irish.
That impact came during his junior and senior seasons where he, arguably, put up the best 2-year run of any linebacker in program history. In total: 142 tackles, 24.5 tackles for loss, 7 sacks, 1 interception, 7 passes defended, 5 forced fumbles, 4 fumble recoveries, and a touchdown in perhaps Notre Dame’s biggest win in years.
The real discussion is where you place JOK in the modern Notre Dame Butkus Winners Triumvirate? Initially, I wanted to place him ahead of Jaylon Smith but then backed off. I don’t think JOK’s career in total gets quite near Te’o and I’ll reluctantly say that, while Owusu-Koramoah had better production and posted better highlights, he didn’t quite mean as much to the defense as Smith did all while the latter played in a highly dysfunctional system.
*Just now realizing the parallel careers of JOK and Kevin Austin w/r/t injuries and hype. Let’s hope Austin finishes his like JOK was able to, right?
Appropriate placement, I think.
If Jaylon Smith’s defenses got the same level of coaching that JOK got, a comparison between the two would not be particularly close. That said, to some degree you are what your production says you are, and they are pretty comparable/there is a reasonable case to put JOK ahead of Jaylon.
It’s still wild that JOK was a late 2nd round pick.
Hot take: Jaylon was never a good pass rusher, there was always a level of stiffness there holding him back. The size difference is important too. But, I also think Jaylon got way too big in college (and he’s enormous now in the NFL). Almost makes it like he and JOK play different positions.
In the few cowboy games I’ve watched, they have him blitzing almost every play.
Yeah, maybe. 9 sacks in 64 career games.
I saw a cowboys article saying jaylon might be on his last leg there, with micah Parsons playing at a high level. The article further states jaylon is a perceived pass coverage liability. Which is all so sad, he was such an electric player in college
So, if I am reading this right…
You are penalizing Jerimiah because Jaylon had a horribad DC.
In its own HoF, a MoTS patented self-reply, inspired by Larz Grizzly refs yesterday.
So, Leave Butkus Recipient Comparison aside
Looked at who slots around Godbacker & JOK:
JOK ahead of Justin Tuck? Mmm, tough to accept
JOK ahead of Zack Martin? Nope
JOK ahead of George Kunz? Before my time, but slotted ahead of Martin so will assume at least a skosh better.
JOK in good place I guess?
No, I’m saying they’re only close because Jaylon had a bad DC – i.e., Jaylon’s on-field results (and the final records of the teams he played on) were penalized by BVG.
there were some rumors that he slipped because of some medical information – something about his heart. Not sure if that was the case or not but it would explain how he fell out of the 1st round.
He had a great 1st preseason game for the Browns even though he missed around the first 10 practices being on the Covid list.