Linebacker Mike Goolsby was voted one of four team captains for the 2004 Irish.

Collins, Goolsby, Grant & Tuck Invited To NFL Combine

Feb. 21, 2005

NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Four former Irish football players have been invited to the 2005 National Football League Combine scheduled for February 23-March 1, at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis. Receiving invitations were tight end Jerome Collins, linebacker Mike Goolsby, running back Ryan Grant and defensive end Justin Tuck.

Collins, from Warrenville, IL, played in 46 games during his Notre Dame career including 11 games during the 2004 season. After a prep career at wide receiver, Collins moved to linebacker early in his Irish career. After sitting out his freshman year (2000), Collins saw action as a reserve outside linebacker in ’01, ’02 and moved to defensive end during the ’03 season before moving to tight end for his final season in ’04. He saw action in 35 games as a linebacker and defensive end, making 14 total tackles (11 solos) including one for a loss. At tight end in ’04, Collins caught six passes for 67 yards (11.2 average) including a long of 21. A stalwart on special teams throughout his Notre Dame career, Collins starred on the unit in ’04 when he blocked three punts on the season and made four tackles (three solos). Collins graduated from Notre Dame’s College of Arts and Letters in December of ’04 with a degree in sociology and computer applications.

Goolsby, from Joliet, IL, played in 47 games for the Irish and started 25 games at linebacker. He returned to action in `04 after missing the entire 2003 campaign with injuries and led the team in tackles with 97 with a team-leading two interceptions, one fumble recovery, three quarterback sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss. Goolsby graduated with a degree in American Studies from the College of Arts and Letters in May of `04 and is currently enrolled as a graduate student at Notre Dame. Goolsby was honored by his teammates in ’04 by being named one of four captains for the season.

Grant, from Nyack, NY, ended his career 11th on the Irish career rushing list with 2,220 yards and his 18 rushing touchdowns rank tied for 10th in Notre Dame history. Grant started 27 games at tailback in his career, playing in 39 games overall, and was second on the team in rushing this season with 515 yards and five touchdowns. A starter for most of the last three seasons, Grant rushed for more than 100 yards five times in his career and is one of only seven players in school history to have rushed for more than 1,000 yards in a season (1,085 in 2002). Grant graduated in December with a double major in sociology and computer applications from the College of Arts and Letters. He graduated a half-year ahead of schedule. Grant was honored by his teammates in ’04 by being named one of four captains for the season.

Tuck, from Kellyton, AL, broke the Notre Dame career record for quarterback sacks and was named the Notre Dame Monogram Club Most Valuable Player in 2004 by a vote of his teammates. His team-leading six sacks gave him a total of 24.5 sacks for his career in just three seasons of action. Through three seasons of play, Tuck garnered 43 tackles for loss, 164 total tackles and seven passes broken up. In 2004, Tuck led the team in tackles for loss with 14 (for 57 yards), while notching 47 tackles to rank sixth on the team. Tuck achieved all of this after recovering from a major knee injury suffered in the 2003 season finale, returning to earn a starter’s role in 11 games in ’04 and logging a career-high 263 minutes of playing time. Tuck is majoring in management in the Mendoza College of Business and is on schedule to graduate in May of `05.