Sept. 21, 1998

The University of Notre Dame has more of its former football players participating in the National Football League in 1998 than any other college or university.

Forty former Notre Dame football players appeared on ’98 opening day active rosters of NFL teams, according to figures released by the league.

Notre Dame placed more players on opening-day rosters than any other school — with Florida State second with 38, followed by Penn State (35) and Tennessee (34).

1998 marks the fourth straight year Notre Dame has had more players on opening-day rosters than any other school.

Here are the former Fighting Irish now active in the pros:

    BUFFALO BILLS            C Dusty Zeigler     CAROLINA PANTHERS        QB Steve Beuerlein                             FL Raghib Ismail                             RB Anthony Johnson                              S Rod Smith                              LB Kinnon Tatum    CHICAGO BEARS            CB Tom Carter                             DT Jim Flanigan                             DT Paul Grasmanis                                T Andy Heck    DETROIT LIONS            TE Pete Chryplewicz                             LB Scott Kowalkowski    GREEN BAY PACKERS        SE Derrick Mayes                             QB Rick Mirer                             DB Pat Terrell     INDIANAPOLIS COLTS       LB Bert Berry                             CB Jeff Burris    JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS      S Travis Davis                             DT Renaldo Wynn    KANSAS CITY CHIEFS        C Tim Grunhard    MIAMI DOLPHINS            C Tim Ruddy                             CB Shawn Wooden      MINNESOTA VIKINGS        LB Pete Bercich    NEW ORLEANS SAINTS       RB Ray Zellars     OAKLAND RAIDERS          TE Derek Brown                             WR Tim Brown    PHILADELPHIA EAGLES      CB Allen Rossum                              CB Bobby Taylor    PITTSBURGH STEELERS      DT Oliver Gibson                             RB Jerome Bettis    ST. LOUIS RAMS           CB Todd Lyght    SAN DIEGO CHARGERS        K John Carney                              T Aaron Taylor    SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS      DE Junior Bryant                             FB Marc Edwards                             LB Tony Peterson                             TE Irv Smith                              DT Bryant Young    SEATTLE SEAHAWKS         RB Ricky Watters    TENNESSEE OILERS         P Craig Hentrich