Oct. 2, 2001
The University of Notre Dame had 36 of its former football players participating in the opening of National Football League play in 2001, according to figures released by the league based on opening-day active rosters. The Irish now have ranked either first or second in that category for seven straight years.
The Irish led all Division I schools for five straight years from 1995 through ’99.
Notre Dame ranked second (with 37) to Florida State (with 38) in players on 2000 opening-day rosters – and again ranked second in 2001 with Florida State leading the way (40), followed by Notre Dame (36), Michigan (34), Miami (33), Florida (32) and Texas A&M (32).
Here are the former Fighting Irish now active in the pros (R indicates rookie):
BUFFALO BILLS
SS Tony Driver (R)
TE Dan O’Leary (R)
CAROLINA PANTHERS
DB Deveron Harper
LB Kory Minor
CHICAGO BEARS
RB Autry Denson
OG Mike Gandy (R)
OLB Bobbie Howard
CINCINNATI BENGALS
CB Tom Carter
DT Oliver Gibson
CLEVELAND BROWNS
FS Deke Cooper
LB Anthony Denman (R)
DALLAS COWBOYS
WR Raghib Ismail
DENVER BRONCOS
QB Steve Beuerlein
QB Jarious Jackson
DETROIT LIONS
LB Scott Kowalkowski
CB Todd Lyght
GREEN BAY PACKERS
DT Jim Flanigan
DB Allen Rossum
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS
DB Jeff Burris
P Hunter Smith
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS
DE Renaldo Wynn
MIAMI DOLPHINS
C Tim Ruddy
FS Shawn Wooden
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS
FB Marc Edwards
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
K John Carney
NEW YORK GIANTS
DT Lance Legree (R)
OT Luke Petitgout
OG Mike Rosenthal
C Dusty Zeigler
OAKLAND RAIDERS
WR Tim Brown
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
DT Paul Grasmanis
DB Bobby Taylor
PITTSBURGH STEELERS
RB Jerome Bettis
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
DE Junior Bryant
DT Bryant Young
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS
RB Ricky Watters
TENNESSEE TITANS
P Craig Hentrich
In addition, listed on the injured reserve list were OL Tim Ridder of Indianapolis, TE Jabari Holloway (R) of New England and CB Brock Williams (R) of New England.