2013 Notre Dame Football Freshman Numbers

Numbers have been assigned for the 2013 Notre Dame football freshmen team members for all but one incoming frosh and as it is every year, it’s fun to run through the numbers and see who got historically significant – and sometimes infamous – numbers.

All of the numbers that been dealt out, other than Torii Hunter’s which hasn’t been published anywhere yet, can be seen in the table to the right, but here are some notes on the rest.

• Anytime anyone gets #3 it will draw a lot of attention because of the historical significance of the #3 jersey at Notre Dame.  Originally, Eddie Vanderdoes was set to be one of the first significant defensive players to wear the #3, but that honor now falls to cornerback Cole Luke – that ought to tell everyone a little bit about the staff’s opinion of Luke.
• After #3, the next number that usually jumps out to me is #25 because my all-time favorite Golden Domer, Rocket Ismail, made the number forever famous in my eyes in the late 80’s.  It’s interesting that Tarean Folston was given the number considering his playmaking skills – hopefully he has close to Ismail’s big play ability.  Jonas Gray most recently wore #25 at running back and made more than his fair share of big plays too.  Of course, Munir Prince wore #25 recently too and despite having “whooooosh” speed, things didn’t work out for him.
• There hasn’t been a famous #1 at running back like Greg Bryant will be wearing, but he is in good company with the likes of Todd Lyght and Derrick Mayes and of course, current nose tackle Louis Nix who siwtched from #9 to #1 in the off-season.
• Speaking of Louis Nix’s old #9, super recruit Jaylon Smith will take over the #9 on the defensive side of the ball.  The same #9 that Tommy Zbikowski recently wore as well with great success.  Not a bad recent history of the #9 jersey on the defensive side of the ball developing for Notre Dame.  Jeff Burris wore #9 on defensive as a safety and had himself a heck of a career in the 90’s.
• With Max Redfield getting #10, I wouldn’t expect to see him get any looks on offense with Davaris Daniels sporting the same #10 at wide receiver
• Both incoming tight ends will be wearing numbers that recent highly successful tight ends for the Irish wore.  Mike Heuerman will be wearing Kyle Rudolph’s old #9 while Durham Smythe is going to be taking Tyler Eifert’s old #80.
• Michael Deeb is in very good company with #42 at inside linebacker after Michael Stonebreaker wore #42 to All-American status in the late 80’s/early 90’s.
• Notre Dame’s two defensive ends in this year’s freshman class will both be wearing numbers of recent Notre Dame defensive ends – Isaac Rochell will be wearing Ethan Johnson’s old #90 and Jacob Matuska will be taking over #89 from a recent fan favorite – Kaprin Lewis Moore.
• Hopefully Doug Randolph’s career last longer than Notre Dame’s most recent #19 on defense – Aaron Lynch.  If Randolph were to have a similar freshman year impact to Lynch though, I don’t think anyone would complain.
• Corey Robinson was already one of my favorite incoming freshman for a couple reasons.  First off, I still vividly remember trying to collect his dad’s Skybox rookie card as kid (remember Skybox basketball cards?).  Second, I think Robinson is going to have a hell of a career once Chuck Martin and Mike Denbrock get some work with him.  The fact that he is wearing #88 instead of a trendy wide receiver number makes him all the more likable.
• Mike Rosenthall wore #79 to All-American status in the mid 90’s.  I don’t think anyone will be surprised if Steve Elmer does the same at tackle before his career is over at Notre Dame.

Any other significant or infamous previous owners of the jersey number dealt out to this year’s frosh?  Fill them out in the comments below.