When filling out your All-America ballots this fall, I sincerely hope you consider these players from Notre Dame (listed alphabetically by last name):
TE TylerEifert
WR Michael Floyd
LB MantiTe’o
Notre Dame was one of 24 teams that started the season 0-2, losing to USF and Michigan by a combined seven points after committing a combined 10 turnovers. Since then, the Irish have rattled off eight wins in the last nine games. Of the 24 teams that started 0-2 this year, only three currently have a winning record: Notre Dame, Georgia and Western Kentucky. The turnaround was led by the following players that have all had seasons worthy of All-America consideration.
Tyler Eifert (nella foto)
TE :: 6-6 :: 249 :: Junior :: Fort Wayne,Ind. (Bishop Dwenger)
· Mackey Award finalist
· Sporting News Midseason First-Team All-American
· Phil Steele Midseason First-Team All-American
· College Football News Midseason Second-Team All-American
· 2011 totals: 53 rec., 634 yards, 5 TDs
· Leads ALL tight ends in receptions
· Ranks 2nd among ALL tight ends in receiving yards and receiving yards per game
· Among the three Mackey Award finalists, Eifert has the most receptions and receiving yards
· On pace to set the Notre Dame record for receptions in a season by a tight end while recording the second-most receiving yards in a season by a Fighting Irish tight end
· Needs 2 receptions, 164 yards and 2 TDs to set Notre Dame records for most receptions, receiving yards and receiving TDs by a tight end
· Caught 6 passes for season-high 93 yards vs. USF
· Registered 8 receptions for 75 yards and 1 TD at Pittsburgh
· Recorded 8 catches for 81 yards and 1 TD vs. Air Force
· Caught 7 passes for 66 yards vs. current No. 10 USC
· Tallied 8 receptions for 83 yards and 1 TD vs. Maryland
· Already ranks 5th in career receptions and receiving yards by a Notre Dame tight end with two seasons of eligibility remaining
· Recorded at least 6 receptions in 5 gamesthis year
Michael Floyd
WR :: 6-3 :: 224 :: Senior :: Saint Paul,Minn. (Cretin-Derham)
· Biletnikoff Award semifinalist
· Phil Steele Midseason Second-Team All-American
· 2011 totals: 87 rec., 1,014 yards, 7 TDs; 1 rush, 10 yards, 1 TD
· Career totals: 258 rec., 3,553 yards, 35 TDs; 3 rushes, 27 yards, 1 TD
· Ranks 9th in the FBS in receptions per game
· Caught 12 passes for 154 yards and 2 TDs vs. USF
· Recorded 13 receptions for 159 yards vs. current No. 17 Michigan
· Registered 12 catches for 137 yards and 1 TD at Purdue
· Tallied 121 receiving yards on 6 receptions and 1 TD vs. Navy
· Caught 9 passes for 90 yards and 1 TD vs.Maryland
· Recorded 10 receptions for 92 yards vs. Boston College
· Among active players, ranks 3rd in career receiving TDs and career receiving yards
· Notre Dame school record holder in five career categories: receptions (258), receiving yards (3,553), receiving TDs(35), receiving yards per game (86.7), games with at least 100 receiving yards (17)
“The guy was unbelievable. What Floyd did against us we have seen him do against everybody. The guy is a big‑time receiver. You throw the hitch out to him and he stiff‑arms guys, most of them, for touchdowns. He's catching the ball underneath; catching the ball over the top. I mean, the kid is a complete player.”
· Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo
Manti Te’o
LB :: 6-4 :: 255 :: Junior :: Laie, Hawaii (Punahou)
· Butkus Award finalist
· Lombardi Award semifinalist
· Lott Trophy semifinalist
· Capital One Academic All-District V
· Capital One Academic All-America nominee
· Phil Steele Midseason First-Team All-American
· College Football News Midseason First-Team All-American
· CBS Sports.com Midseason Second-Team All-American
· SI.com Midseason Second-Team All-American
· 2011 totals: 103 tackles, 11.5 TFLs, 4.5 sacks, 1 PBU
· Already has set career-highs in TFLs and sacks
· Among inside and middle linebackers, Te’o ranks tied for 2nd in solo TFLs, tied for 2nd in solosacks, 3rd in total sacks, 3rd in sacks per game, 4th in TFL per game and 5th in total TFL
· 14 tackles, 1 TFL and 1 sack vs. USF
· 12 tackles vs. current No. 11 Michigan State
· 8 tackles (all solo), 3 TFLs and 2 sacks at Purdue
· 10 tackles vs. current No. 10 USC
· 13 tackles, 2.5 TFLs and 0.5 sack vs. Navy
· Named Lott Trophy IMPACT Player of the Week on Nov. 21 after recording 12 tackles including 0.5 tackle for loss and three QB hurries vs. Boston College
· Best player on a defense that has yielded13.3 points per game over the last nine games
· Career totals: 299 tackles, 26.5 TFLs, 6.5 sacks, 5 PBUs, 1 forced fumble
"He knocks you back — I mean, his game is exhausting. He has to be exhausted after games. There are some other really good linebackers, butthey take some plays off, run behind blocks. Every play, he plays like it'sthird-and-1."
· USC head coach Lane Kiffin
“The difference for us offensively against their defense was Manti. We could not block Manti. We have been doing this for a long time. We tried a lot of different schemes and tried a lot of things to block him, but the kid played phenomenal. We just could not block that guy. We tried to mis‑direction him, tried to get him lost and try to do some different things with eyes and that kid was dialed in. Like I said, we tried a lot of different blocking schemes and we could not get him blocked.”
· Navy head coach Ken Niumatalolo
