April 26, 2010
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Led by the record-setting combination of quarterback Jimmy Clausen and wide receiver Golden Tate, the University of Notre Dame football team had four players selected in the 2010 NFL Draft. Three members of the 2009 Fighting Irish team signed as undrafted free agents and three more former Notre Dame football players have tryouts set with NFL teams.
Over the past four years, 32 Notre Dame football players have either been drafted or signed as free agents with NFL teams.
The Carolina Panthers selected Clausen with their first selection in the 2010 draft. He was the 48th overall selection and 16th pick in the second round. Clausen was just the second Notre Dame player ever drafted by the Panthers, joining Kinnon Tatum who was taken in the third round of the 1997 draft. Clausen was the third quarterback drafted this year and is the second Notre Dame quarterback selected in the last four NFL drafts.
The Seattle Seahawks took Tate with the 60th pick of the 2010 draft. He will join former Fighting Irish tight end John Carlson in the Emerald City and play for former USC head coach Pete Carroll. Tate became the first Notre Dame wide receiver drafted since Maurice Stovall was taken by Tampa Bay in the third round of the 2006 draft and Tate was the highest-drafted Irish wide receiver since Derrick Mayes was selected with the 56th pick in the 1996 draft by Green Bay.
Former offensive tackle Sam Young had his name called with the 10th pick of the sixth round, the 179th overall selection, by the Dallas Cowboys. He was the first Notre Dame player taken by “America’s Team” since tight end Anthony Fasano in 2006.
Four picks after Young was drafted, the Denver Broncos selected his offensive line teammate Eric Olsen. The Broncos have now drafted a Notre Dame player two straight years (David Bruton in 2009) and three players in the last four drafts (Ryan Harris in 2007). Over the last five drafts, Notre Dame has had six offensive linemen selected, more than any other position group.
Joining Olsen in Denver will be offensive tackle Paul Duncan and safety Kyle McCarthy as both players signed as undrafted free agents. Safety Sergio Brown will be reunited with former Notre Dame defensive backs coach Corwin Brown with the New England Patriots as Sergio Brown signed as an undrafted free agent.
Running back James Aldridge has been invited to the Miami Dolphins rookie minicamp and wide receiver Robby Parris will attend the rookie minicamp of the Cleveland Browns. David Grimes will tryout for the Kansas City Chiefs and former Irish head coach Charlie Weis.
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