Notre Dame in the NFL: Julian Love picks great time for first Seahawks INT
Former Notre Dame defensive back Julian Love intercepted his first pass as a Seattle Seahawk on Sunday, and it could not have come at a better time.
Trailing by 3 with 2:04 to play, Browns quarterback PJ Walker threw a pass that was deflected off the helmet of Seahawks safety Jamal Adams. The ball popped up into the air, and Love made the more-difficult-than-it-looks play of tracking it and picking it off at the Seattle 43-yard line.
The Seahawks, wearing their gorgeous throwback uniforms, scored on their ensuing possession and won the game, 24-20.
“It was like prime Renaldo,” Love said of Adams’ deflection. “All credit to ‘Mal.”
Love has made his new team happy in his first season in Seattle. After four years with the Giants, Love has 5 passes defended, an interception, a fumble recovery and 50 tackles. He also gives the Seahawks versatility in their secondary, earning significant snaps in the box, at deep safety and in the slot.
Here’s how every other former Notre Dame player in the NFL did in Week 8.
Brandon Aubrey (played for Notre Dame from 2013-16), K, Dallas Cowboys
Result: 43-20 win over Rams
Aubrey remains perfect on field goals this season with a 2/2 performance. The former Notre Dame men’s soccer player also made all 5 of his extra points.
Aaron Banks (2017-20), OL, San Francisco 49ers
Result: 31-17 loss to Bengals
Banks’ Pro Football Focus grades hovered around 50 this week, as he allowed 2 quarterback hits.
Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Result: 20-10 loss to Jaguars
Boykin played 5 snaps and was not targeted.
Chase Claypool (2016-19), WR, Miami Dolphins
Result: 31-17 win over Patriots
Claypool caught 1 of his 2 targets for 15 yards.
Scott Daly (2012-16), LS, Detroit Lions
Result: 26-14 win over Raiders
Daly played another successful game, but on his last snap, he suffered an MCL sprain that is expected to sideline him for 1-3 weeks.
Liam Eichenberg (2016-20), OL, Miami Dolphins
Result: 31-17 win over Patriots
Eichenberg did not allow a pressure in 48 opportunities, earning a 73.3 pass-blocking grade.
Isaiah Foskey (2019-22), DE, New Orleans Saints
Result: 38-27 win over Colts
Foskey totaled 1 hurry and batted down a pass in 10 snaps.
Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers
Result: 30-13 win over Bears
Gilman made his return from a four-week absence. He did not allow a reception on 2 targets, including a pass defended. He also did not record a tackle, though.
Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints
Result: 38-27 win over Colts
Grupe made his lone field goal attempt and went 5/5 on extra points.
Robert Hainsey (2017-20), OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Result: 24-18 loss to Bills
Hainsey allowed 2 pressures but graded well, finishing with a 69.2 overall PFF grade.
Kyle Hamilton (2019-2021), S, Baltimore Ravens
Result: 31-24 win over Cardinals
Hamilton set a season high with 10 tackles, including 1 for loss and 3 defensive stops. He allowed 4 receptions on 7 targets for 21 yards.
Kurt Hinish (2017-21), DT, Houston Texans
Result: 15-13 loss to Panthers
Hinish made 2 tackles and totaled 1 pressure.
J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers
Result: 15-13 win over Texans
Jansen, the longest-tenured former Notre Dame player in the NFL, snapped successfully 8 times. He had 4 snaps each on field goals and punts.
Khalid Kareem (2016-19), DE, Chicago Bears
Result: 30-13 loss to Chargers
Kareem made his Bears debut, picking up 1 hurry and 1 tackle.
Cole Kmet (2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears
Result: 30-13 loss to Chargers
Kmet caught a season high 10 receptions on 10 targets, which went for 79 yards.
Zack Martin (2009-13), OL, Dallas Cowboys
Result: 43-20 win over Rams
Martin allowed a sack, but he was otherwise stout this week. He finished with a 71.4 overall grade.
Michael Mayer (2020-22), TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Result: 26-14 loss to Lions
Mayer caught 1 of his 2 targets for 19 yards. He also registered a big hit on punt coverage.
Nick McCloud (2020), CB, New York Giants
Result: 13-10 OT win over Jets
McCloud made 1 tackle in 14 snaps.
Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OL, Denver Broncos
Result: 24-9 win over Chiefs
McGlinchey allowed 3 pressures, but he posted a respectable 67.4 overall grade.
Sam Mustipher (2014-18), OL, Baltimore Ravens
Result: 31-24 win over Cardinals
Mustipher was a healthy scratch.
Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OL, Indianapolis Colts
Result: 38-27 loss to Saints
Nelson allowed 2 pressures, including a sack. His PFF pass blocking grade wound up at 53.6.
Julian Okwara (2016-19), EDGE, Detroit Lions
Result: 26-14 win over Raiders
Okwara finished with 2 tackles, including 1 sack, his first of the season.
Romeo Okwara (2012-15), DL, Detroit Lions
Result: 26-14 win over Raiders
Okwara played but did not make the stat sheet.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2017-20), LB, Cleveland Browns
Result: 24-20 loss to Seahawks
Owusu-Koramoah made 4 tackles, including 1 for loss. Three were defensive stops. He added a quarterback hurry and only allowed 1 catch on 1 target for 4 yards. It’s been a breakout season for the quintessential Notre Dame Rover.
Jarrett Patterson (2018-22), OL, Houston Texans
Result: 15-13 loss to Panthers
Patterson only allowed 1 pressure but was given a 37.7 pass blocking grade.
Isaac Rochell (2013-16), DE, Las Vegas Raiders
Result: 26-14 loss to Lions
Rochell made 1 tackle.
Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams
Result: 43-20 loss to Cowboys
Skowronek only played 5 snaps, but he scored on a 20-yard touchdown reception.
Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins
Result: 31-17 win over Patriots
Smythe caught all 3 of his targets for 28 yards.
Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings
Result: 24-10 win over Packers
Smith made 4 tackles, 3 of which were defensive stops. He allowed 3 catches for 15 yards on 4 targets.
Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OL, Baltimore Ravens
Result: 31-24 win over Cardinals
Stanley allowed 4 pressures, including a sack. The former top-10 pick out of Notre Dame graded relatively well with PFF, though, posting a 67.3 overall grade.
Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DL, Las Vegas Raiders
Result: 26-14 loss to Lions
Tillery made 3 tackles and picked up a quarterback hit.
Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Result: 24-9 loss to Broncos
Tranquill made a season high 11 tackles and picked up a sack in his third-straight game. He also forced a fumble.
Tommy Tremble (2018-20), TE, Carolina Panthers
Result: 15-13 win over Texans
Tremble caught 2 passes for 4 yards, including a 1-yard touchdown. He helped the Panthers win their first game of the season.
Brock Wright (2017-20), TE, Detroit Lions
Result: 26-14 win over Raiders
Wright caught his lone target for 5 yards.
