The connections between the state of Oregon and Notre Dame are relatively sparse.

The University of Portland is considered Notre Dame’s sister school because it is affiliated with the Congregation of Holy Cross, which also founded the University of Notre Dame. Its current president is Rev. Mark Poorman, C.S.C., who was a member of Notre Dame’s theology faculty and was a vice president for student affairs from 1999 to 2010.

Also in Portland is the grave of Frank Leahy, who coached Notre Dame to four national titles (1943, 1946, 1947 and 1949), plus three other unbeaten seasons (1941, 1948 and 1953) during his 11 seasons at his alma mater.

More relevant in the present, Notre Dame signed its 21st recruit in the 2018 haul when four-star wideout Braden Lenzy of Tigard, Oregon (part of the Portland metropolitan area) did the honors this Friday.

There have been only 26 players from Oregon who have appeared in game action at Notre Dame, with the majority prior to 1930. Only two were drafted by the professional ranks.

When all is said and done, the six-foot, 175-pound speedster Lenzy has an opportunity to become the best player ever from the state to suit up for the Irish, and perhaps even the first to play in the NFL.

Here are the top 8 from Oregon who had the best careers for the Irish:

8. Fred Collins (Portland, 1925-28)

One of the first Notre Dame players to don jersey No. 1, he was a regular on Knute Rockne’s teams and started at fullback as a senior.

7. Dave Philbin (Portland, 1916-17)

The starting right tackle on Jesse Harper’s 6-1-1 team in 1917, he was backed up by another Oregon native in Raleigh Stine.

6. Ralph Dimmick (Hubbard, 1908-10)

Three-year starting right tackle on Irish teams that were 19-2-1, he was part of the first seismic upset in school history, the 11-3 victory at Michigan in 1909, the first against the Wolverines in nine tries.

5. Sam “Rosey” Dolan (Albany, 1906-09)

He did one better than Dimmick, starting all four years along the line, the first two at tackle and then at guard next to him. With Dolan one of many Irish players on that 1909 team that toppled Michigan, it was unofficially the first time the media referred to Notre Dame as “Fighting Irish.”

4. Floyd Simmons (Portland, 1945-47)

A backup halfback on the 1946-47 national champs that had the greatest collection of college football talent ever, he rushed for 229 yards and 6.4 yards per carry as a junior. He was the highest selection ever (No. 223 overall) of a Notre Dame player from Oregon and played one year in the AAFC for Chicago.

3. Brian Doherty (Portland, 1971-73)

Recruited as a quarterback, he started all three of his varsity seasons at punter, and also was the holder on Bob Thomas’ game-winning field goal in the 24-23 win versus Alabama in the 1973 Sugar Bowl that won the national title. He was the No. 226 overall pick in the 1974 NFL Draft.

2. Jim Phelan (Portland, 1915-17)

The lone Notre Dame captain from Oregon, he started all three seasons at quarterback when the Irish were 21-3-1 under Harper, highlighted by wins against Army (twice), Nebraska, Texas and Michigan State.

1. Ethan Johnson (Portland, 2008-11)

One of the elite recruits in the country as a high school senior, including a five-star rating from one service, the defensive lineman’s 37 career starts are easily the most by an Irish player from Oregon. He produced 97 tackles, including 18.5 for loss (12.5 sacks). An injury and tending to his ailing father while opting to skip out on Pro Day did not get him drafted, and a concussion as a rookie free agent ended his football career.

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