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Irish In The NFL: When Former Notre Dame Players Go Against One Another

With 26 Notre Dame alums currently on NFL rosters, it has gotten pretty easy to turn on the TV on Sunday and catch up with a former Irish star.

This is exciting for fans, who get to reminisce about some of their favorite players and see how they have progressed at the next level, and for the players, who get to catch up with their fellow alumni when they square off against one another.

San Francisco 49ers right tackle Mike McGlinchey squared off with Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt two weeks ago and surrendered a sack to his fellow Irish alum.
San Francisco 49ers right tackle Mike McGlinchey squared off with Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Stephon Tuitt two weeks ago and surrendered a sack to his fellow Irish alum. (Niners Wire/USA Today.)
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Two Sundays ago, five former Notre Dame players were on the field together in the Houston Texans’ 27-20 victory over the Los Angeles Chargers.

For the Texans, Will Fuller started at wide receiver and Nick Martin opened the game at center. Opposite of Martin on the defensive line for the Chargers were defensive end Isaac Rochell and defensive tackle Jerry Tillery. Linebacker Drue Tranquill also participated in the game on special teams.

Another matchup between former Irish players took place that weekend when the San Francisco 49ers hosted the Pittsburgh Steelers. For much of the game, defensive end Stephon Tuitt of the Steelers was lined up across right tackle Mike McGlinchey of the 49ers.

While the 49ers won the game 24-20, there were plays where Tuitt overmatched his former Irish teammate and one resulted in a big sack.

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“I was having flashbacks of freshman year scout team with Tuitt,” McGlinchey, who played one year with Tuitt in 2013, said on the Brian Kelly Radio Show. “They played the same [defense] that Coach [Bob] Diaco use to run.”

The good news is that after the game, the former teammates walked off the field friends again.

“He’s a great guy,” McGlinchey said. “We talked for a little bit after the game.”

This upcoming Sunday, there could be a similar matchup when Tuitt takes on left tackle Ronnie Stanley and the Baltimore Ravens.

A few other October NFL matchups that will cause former Notre Dame players to line up across from one another on the field are the Detroit Lions versus the Minnesota Vikings Oct. 20, the Lions versus the New York Giants Oct. 27 and the Miami Dolphins versus the Steelers Oct. 28.

Former Notre Dame Football Players In The NFL Week Four Recap

Here is how former Notre Dame players fared during week four of the NFL season:

Miles Boykin (Played at Notre Dame from 2015-18), WR, Baltimore Raven: Reeled in three passes for 32 yards and a touchdown in the 3-1 Ravens’ 40-25 loss to the Browns … His longest reception of the day was for 18 yards and he made a diving catch in the middle of the end zone for his touchdown … For the season, has five receptions for 48 yards and two scores.

Sheldon Day (2012-15), DL, San Francisco 49ers: The 3-0 49ers had a bye this week … Compiled four tackles in the team’s first three contests.

Tyler Eifert (2009-12), TE, Cincinnati Bengals: Was targeted five times and had two catches for 27 yards in the 0-4 Bengals’ 27-3 loss at the Steelers … Has 11 catches for 81 yards and one touchdown through four games.

Matthias Farley (2011‑15), DB, New York Jets: The 0-3 Jets had a bye … Has not played a defensive snap since being picked up by the Jets at the end of the preseason.

• Will Fuller (2013-15), WR, Houston Texans: Snagged three receptions on six targets for 23 yards in the 2-2 Texans’ 16-10 loss versus the Panthers … His longest catch of the day went for 12 yards … Has 14 receptions for 183 yards and no touchdowns through four games.

• J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers: Participated in 36.1 percent of the 2-2 Panthers’ special teams snaps in their 16-10 road win over the Texans … Has played in every game this season.

• TJ Jones (2010‑13), WR, New York Giants: Played just five offensive snaps in the 2-2 Giants 24-3 win over the Redskins … On special teams, he was the punt returner and had two fumbles … For the season, he has three receptions for 38 yards and a touchdown, but his job may be in jeopardy once fellow former Irish wide receiver Golden Tate gets back from suspension.

DeShone Kizer (2014-16), QB, Oakland Raiders: Did not play in the 2-2 Raiders’ 31-24 road win over the Colts … Has yet to see game action since joining the team at the end of the preseason.

• Julian Love (2015-18), CB, New York Giants: Was active this week for the 2-2 Giants’ win over the Redskins … Played on 12 special teams snaps … Has yet to play a defensive snap on this season.

Nick Martin (2011-15), OL, Houston Texans: For the fourth game in a row, he played 100 percent of the offensive snaps at center in Texans’ loss to the Panthers.

Zack Martin (2009-13), OL, Dallas Cowboys: Participated in 100 percent of the offensive snaps in the 3-1 Cowboys’ 12-10 loss to the Saints.

• Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OL, San Francisco 49ers: The 3-0 49ers had a bye … Started at right tackle in each of San Francisco's first three contests.

• Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OL, Indianapolis Colts: Was named to the Pro Football Focus Team of the Week for his performance in the Colts’ loss to the Raiders … Per PFF, he allowed three hurries, with no sacks or hits on the quarterback, in 54 pass-blocking snaps, and earned an 83.1 run-blocking grade.

• Romeo Okwara (2012-15), DE, Detroit Lions: Made two tackles and had half a sack in the 2-1-1 Lions’ 34-30 home loss to the Chiefs … For the season, he has nine tackles, half a sack and a forced fumble.

• C.J. Prosise (2012-15), RB, Seattle Seahawks: Carried the ball three times for four yards and a touchdown in the 3-1 Seahawks’ 27-10 win over the Cardinals … Has eight receptions for 51 yards plus nine carries for 16 yards and a touchdown through four contests.

• Isaac Rochell (2013-16), DT, Los Angeles Chargers: Had one sack in the 2-2 Chargers’ 30-10 road win versus the Dolphins … For the season, he has three tackles and one sack.

• Kyle Rudolph (2008-10), TE, Minnesota Vikings: Hauled in the only pass thrown his way for a 12-yard reception in the 2-2 Vikings’ 16-6 loss to the Bears … For the season, he has five receptions for 32 yards and no touchdowns.

• Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings: Notched four tackles in the loss to the Bears … For the season, he has 24 total tackles, one forced fumble, an interception and four passes defended.

• Jaylon Smith (2013-15), LB, Dallas Cowboys: Registered nine tackles (seven solo), two tackles for a loss, a sack and a quarterback hit in the loss to the Saints … Tied for 10th in the NFL with 36 tackles.

Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins: Was not targeted in the 0-4 Dolphins’ loss to the Chargers, but he did play the most snaps of any tight end on the team with 37 … For the season, he has one reception for 24 yards.

Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OT, Baltimore Ravens: Played in 100 percent of the offensive snaps in the Ravens’ loss to the Browns.

• Golden Tate (2007-09), WR, New York Giants: Served the final week of his four-game suspension for performance-enhancing drugs.

• Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DT, Los Angeles Chargers: Played 50 percent of the defensive snaps and recorded half a sack — the first of his career — among two stops for the Chargers in their win over the Dolphins …. For the season, he has compiled four tackles.

• Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Los Angeles Chargers: Registered 10 defensive snaps and three solo tackles, plus he played on 43.5 percent of the special team snaps in the Chargers’ win … He has five solo tackles on the season.

• Stephon Tuitt (2011-13), DE, Pittsburgh Steelers: Registered just one tackle for the 1-3 Steelers in their 27-3 win over the Bengals on Monday night, but per Next Gen Stats he pressured the quarterback nine times ... Tied for ninth in the NFL in sacks (3.5) and tied for fifth in tackles for loss (six), plus has made 13 tackles so far this season.

• Dexter Williams (2015-18), RB, Green Bay Packers: Was once again inactive for the 3-1 Packers’ 34-27 loss to the 2-2 Eagles … Has yet to play in a game this season.

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