Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Irish Send Ten Players To NFL Camps In 2000

April 18, 2000

NOTRE DAME, Ind. — Ten former Notre Dame football players are headed to National Football League camps in 2000, coming off the NFL draft and including free-agent signings.

Record-setting Irish quarterback Jarious Jackson (Tupelo, Miss.) is headed to Denver after his selection Sunday in the seventh round (214th overall pick) by the Broncos.

Agreeing to terms on a free-agent basis are:
* Wide receiver Bobby Brown (Lauderhill, Fla.) with Green Bay.
* Defensive end Lamont Bryant (Georgetown, S.C.) with Washington.
* Safety Deke Cooper (Evansville, Ind.) with Arizona.
* Fullback Joey Goodspeed (Montgomery, Ill.) with Pittsburgh.
* Cornerback Deveron Harper (Orangeburg, S.C.) with Carolina.
* Wide receiver Raki Nelson (Harrisburg, Pa.) with Philadelphia.
* Linebacker Ronnie Nicks (Kilgore, Texas) with San Francisco.
* Safety A’Jani Sanders (Houston, Texas) with Carolina.
* Defensive tackle Brad Williams (Orange, Calif.) with Chicago.

Brown led Notre Dame in receiving in ’99 with 36 catches for 608 yards and five touchdowns — including a career game of 12 catches for 208 yards and a TD vs. Pittsburgh. He finished with 94 career receptions for 1,495 yards and 12 TDs.

Bryant made 53 tackles in ’99 — and shared the team lead in sacks with four. He finished with 199 career tackles, 11.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss.

Cooper made 70 tackles in ’99 and led the Irish with three caused fumbles. He finished his career with 203 tackles and six interceptions (for 132 yards in returns).

Goodspeed carried 22 times for 59 yards in ’99 — and also caught 12 passes for 91 yards. He ended his Notre Dame career with 399 rushing yards (on 85 attempts) and 16 catches for 125 yards.

Harper made 59 tackles in ’99 and shared the team lead in interceptions with four (one returned for a TD). His career totals included 172 tackles.

Jackson earned honorable mention All-America recognition in ’99 after breaking the Irish single-season records for pass attempts and completions and passing yards. In ’99 he completed 184 of 316 throws for 2,753 yards and 17 TDs — while also rushing 140 times for 464 yards and seven TDs. In his career, he completed 306 of 536 passes for 4,503 yards and 34 TDs — while also rushing 251 times for 877 yards and 13 scores.

Nelson finished ’99 with 23 receptions for 395 yards — and ended his career with 63 catches for 1,081 yards and three TDs.

Nicks made 29 tackles in ’99 (including a career-high 10 vs. Boston College) and finished his career with 58.

Sanders led Notre Dame in ’99 in tackles with 91, tackles for loss with 10 and added three interceptions. His career featured 225 tackles and eight interceptions (good for 103 yards in returns).

Williams made 25 tackles in ’99 — and ended his career with 70, to go with seven for loss and three sacks.