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ESPN names 5 former Notre Dame stars to its All-Time Numerical Team
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- ESPN names 5 former Notre Dame stars to its All-Time Numerical Team
Notre Dame football has plenty of historical figures in the sport, and recently ESPN confirmed that when they named the top player ever wearing each individual number .
The Irish placed five players on the list, some very recent, others many years ago, most likely even before some of us were born. Regardless of when they played, all of them were some of the best to ever don the Blue and Gold, having lasting impacts on the program.
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It was a collective effort by ESPN, with each of them taking a grouping of numbers to make their selections. Find out below which Notre Dame stars made the list and a recap of what was said about each of them.
#0 Safety Xavier Watts
Era played: 2020-2024
Not too many players have worn this number, as it has just been usable since 2020, but Watts certainly earned it. His transition from wide receiver to safety was seamless, winning the Bronko Nagurski Award and being a unanimous All-American in 2023 and a consensus All-American in 2024.
#32 Athlete Johnny Lujack
Mary Lujack, right, holds a microphone for her father, Johnny Lujack, winner of the 1947 Heisman Memorial Trophy at The Founder's Club on Tuesday.
Era played: 1943, 1946-1947
One of the greatest athletes to ever play for Notre Dame, Lujack lettered in four sports: football, basketball, track and baseball. His career was interrupted by a stint in the Navy, he'd return to lead the Irish to back-to-back championships while winning the Heisman Trophy. Lujack never lost a game after he returned from his service and was induced into the College Football Hall of Fame. An absolute legend.
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#82 Lineman Leon Hart
Dec 26, 1954; Cleveland, OH, USA; FILE PHOTO; Detroit Lions Leon Hart (82) catches a touchdown pass in front of Cleveland Browns defensive back Ken Gorgal (15) during the 1954 NFL Championship at Cleveland Stadium. The Browns defeated Lions 56-10. Mandatory Credit: David Boss-USA TODAY Sports
Era played: 1946-1949
Imagine playing against Lujack and also having to game plan for Hart. He won the Heisman Trophy as a lineman along with the Maxwell Award, also leaving South Bend without a loss. Hart was taken with the No. 1 overall NFL draft pick and became a star tight end for the Detroit Lions .
#85 Wide receiver Jim Seymour
Oct 1966, South Bend, IN, USA; FILE PHOTO; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive end Jim Seymour (85) and quarterback Terry Hanratty (5) on the bench at Notre Dame Stadium during the 1966 season. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Era played: 1966-1968
While Seymour was as accomplished as some of his Notre Dame peers, he was a two-time All-American and helped win a championship. An impressive feat that he still owns is the Irish single-game receiving record with 276-yards, in an era where there wasn't much passing.
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#89 Defensive end Ross Browner
Oct 22, 1977; South Bend, IN, USA; FILE PHOTO; Notre Dame Irish defensive end Ross Browner (89) in action against the Southern California Trojans at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Malcolm Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Era played: 1973, 1975-1978
Browner's trophy case wasn't empty in his time with Notre Dame, winning the Outland Trophy, Lombardi Trophy, Maxwell Award (a rare feat) and winning two titles. He was induced into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1999,
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: ESPN names 5 former Notre Dame stars to its All-Time Numerical Team
