Dec. 9, 1999
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – Notre Dame senior quarterback Jarious Jackson and junior tight end Jabari Holloway each earned honorable mention 1999 football All-America honors from Football News — and six Irish players were selected to the Football News All-Independent team.
Holloway joined sophomore tailback Tony Fisher, senior center John Merandi, senior defensive end Lamont Bryant, junior linebacker Anthony Denman and senior strong safety A’Jani Sanders on the All-Independent squad.
Jackson (from Tupelo, Miss.), who was named the ’99 Irish MVP by his teammates, set a Notre Dame single-season record in ’99 with his 2,753 passing yards and also re-established the Irish single-season mark for total offense at 3,217 yards. Both figures broke records previously held by Joe Theismann from 1970.
Jackson completed 184 of 316 passes (both those are single-season records) in ’99 and finished with 4,503 career passing yards, good for fourth on the all-time Notre Dame list.
He also was one of 15 semifinalists for the ’99 Football News Offensive Player of the Year award.
Holloway (Riverdale, Ga.) caught 12 passes for 189 yards and three touchdowns in ’99 — and also made the game-winning fumble recovery against USC.
Fisher (Euclid, Ohio) led the Irish in rushing with 783 yards (on 156 carries) and five TDs, while also catching 18 passes for 296 yards ands two more TDs.
Bryant (Georgetown, S.C.) tied for the ’99 team lead in sacks (with four for 22 yards in losses) while adding 53 tackles, six other tackles for loss and one pass broken up.
Denman (Rusk, Texas) finished second on the ’99 squad with 89 total tackles, was second in tackles for loss (with nine for 18) and also tied for the team lead in fumble recoveries with three. He forced two fumbles, intercepted one pass and recorded one sack.
Sanders (Houston, Texas) led the Irish in tackles with 91, led the team in tackles for loss (with 10 for 30), intercepted three passes (one returned for a TD vs. Arizona State), forced one fumble and broke up four passes.