Notre Dame & California Defensive Recruiting
Thursday evening’s commitment from Temecula (Calif.) Great Oak four-star linebacker Jack Lamb — ranked by Rivals as the No. 97 player in the country and the No. 4 inside linebacker — was a coup for Notre Dame in several ways.
First, the school has a huge investment in the state, which is why USC and Stanford are on the football schedule yearly. California has produced the most NFL talent over the years and is replete with Catholic powers such as Mater Dei, Servite, Concord De La Salle, Bishop Amat ... among many others. Nevertheless, luring any top prospect such as Lamb away from the warm weather, familiarity or academic reputation of USC, UCLA or Stanford, will eternally remain a challenge.
Second, Lamb plays defense, which has been much more difficult for Notre Dame to recruit in California over the decades than offense.
Only Pennsylvania has produced more talent at quarterback than California has for Notre Dame. Since 1960, seven different QBs from California have started for the Irish, among them 1964 Heisman Trophy winner John Huarte, long-time NFL players Daryle Lamonica and Steve Beuerlein, and more recently five-star prospects Jimmy Clausen and Dayne Crist. Sophomore Ian Book, also from California, is the top reserve this year at the position.
The receiving corps this year includes California natives Equanimeous St. Brown, CJ Sanders and Javon McKinley. There have been top rushers such as Nick Eddy (1964-66), Mark Green (1985-88) and Cierre Wood (2010-13), recent tight end starters such as Troy Niklas and Tyler Luatua, and a plethora of offensive linemen, led by first-round picks such Aaron Taylor (1990-93) and George Kunz (1966-68) among the 140-plus natives from the state that have played for the Irish.
Defensively, however, it’s been more wearisome, if not exasperating. In 2013, the Irish signed two five-star defenders from the state in lineman Eddie Vanderdoes and safety Max Redfield, but Vanderdoes never ended up enrolling and a checkered career for Redfield resulted in his dismissal prior to his senior season.
Lamb will attempt to become Notre Dame’s top defenseman from California in more than a decade. Here’s our top 10 defensive players from the state:
1. Kevin Hardy (Oakland, 1964-67)
A three-time All-American at defensive tackle, he also was the best all-around athlete to attend Notre Dame from the state. He lettered in basketball and baseball at Notre Dame as well, did the punting when needed and is the highest draft pick from the state (No. 7 overall in 1968).
2. Shane Walton (San Diego, 1999-2002)
One of the great walk-on stories in school history, the cornerback earned consensus All-America honors in 2002 and was an exceptional leader, including captaincy, after leaving the soccer team, where he received All-Big East mention as a freshman.
3. Kory Minor (LaVerne, 1995-98)
The four-year starter was the 1994 USA Today Defensive Player of the Year at Bishop Amat. In the Irish record book his 44.5 tackles for loss trail only Ross Browner’s unbreakable 77.
4. Derek Landri (Concord, 2003-06)
An elite recruit from superpower De La Salle, he plugged the middle effectively as a relatively undersized but technique sound nose guard, and played seven seasons in the NFL.
5. Bill Wightkin (Santa Monica, 1946-49)
He backed up the peerless Leon Hart at end most of his career during the dynasty days, but room was made for him to start as a senior (the other All-American end, Jim Martin, was shifted to tackle) for the national champs before playing four years in the NFL.
6. John Helwig (Los Angeles, 1948-50)
Started at linebacker for the 1949 national champs, and the next season as well, before playing four years in the NFL for the Chicago Bears.
7. Eric Patton (Santa Ana, 1969-71)
Mater Dei product started at strong side linebacker for the 1970-71 defenses that played 21 games and held opponents to 11 points or less in 16 of them. He was credited with 164 stops those two seasons.
8. Tom MacDonald (Downey, 1961-63)
Somewhat overshadowed because he starred during a difficult era in the program’s history and didn’t play in the NFL. However, his 15 career interceptions — nine in 1962, the second-most in a season at Notre Dame — are second on the school’s all-time chart, behind Luther Bradley’s 17.
9. Brad Williams (Orange, 1996-99)
USA Today first-team All-American defensive tackle selection as a high school senior at Mater Dei, Williams had a couple of starts on offense as a freshman, and then 33 starts the next three years on the opposite side of the ball.
10. Willie Clark (Wheatland, 1990-93)
The speedster broke into the starting lineup as a free safety late in his freshman year before moving to tailback and then to corner. Although he was academically ineligible as a junior and a backup as a senior, he played five years in the NFL.
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