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Notre Dame in the NFL: Kyren Williams shines as multi-purpose star

IMG_7504by: Jack Soble15 hours agojacksoble56
kyren
Notre Dame running back Kyren Williams. (Mike Miller, Blue & Gold)

NFL teams want running backs who can do it all, and few do that better than former Notre Dame star Kyren Williams.

Williams, in his fourth year with the Los Angeles Rams, had his best game of the 2025 season on Sunday. The Rams lost 33-26 to the Philadelphia Eagles, but Williams carried 20 times for 94 yards (4.7 yards per attempt) and caught 2 passes for 18 yards.

One of those receptions went for Williams’ second touchdown of the season and 33rd of his career.

Williams’ best trait, though, is that he does the dirty work. The result of the play is not important, but watch what the former Notre Dame running back did to Eagles rookie linebacker Jihad Campbell.

That will make Williams’ coaches very happy, which he’ll continue to do for the next three years after his recent contract extension.

Here’s how every former Notre Dame athlete in the NFL did in Week 3.

Joe Alt (2019-21), OT, Los Angeles Chargers

Result: 23-20 win over Broncos

Alt produced his highest overall and run-blocking grades of the season on Pro Football Focus at 80.0 and 79.0, respectively. He did allow his first sack of the season, but he graded at 75.6 as a pass blocker anyway.

Brandon Aubrey (2017-20), K, Dallas Cowboys)

Result: 31-14 loss to Bears

Aubrey made both his field-goal attempts with a long of 53. He’s now 4-of-4 on field goals from 50-plus yards out this season and 28-of-31 in his career.

Kevin Austin Jr. (2018-21), WR, New Orleans Saints

Result: 44-13 loss to Seahawks

The Saints elevated Austin from their practice squad to their active roster on Saturday. He did not catch his lone target and was waived after the game, but logic dictates he will return to the PS.

Aaron Banks (2017-20), G, Green Bay Packers

Result: 13-10 loss to Browns

Banks allowed a sack and finished with a 12.1 PFF pass-blocking grade.

JD Bertrand (2019-23), LB, Atlanta Falcons

Result: 30-0 loss to Panthers

Bertrand played 20 snaps on special teams, making 1 assisted tackle. He also played a snap on defense for the first time this year.

Beaux Collins (2024), WR, New York Giants

Result: 22-9 loss to Chiefs

Collins was not targeted.

Howard Cross III (2019-24), DT, Cincinnati Bengals

Result: 48-10 loss to Vikings

Cross was active for the first time this season, playing 9 snaps and recording his first tackle.

Scott Daly (2012-16), LS, Chicago Bears

Result: 31-14 win over Cowboys

Daly snapped successfully 9 times, for once more on kicks (5) than punts (4).

Mitchell Evans (2021-24), TE, Carolina Panthers

Result: 30-0 win over Falcons

Evans caught his lone target for 9 yards.

Blake Fisher (2021-23), OT, Houston Texans

Result: 17-10 loss to Jaguars

Fisher was a healthy scratch.

Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers

Result: 23-20 win over Broncos

Gilman made 2 tackles, but he was credited with allowing a 52-yard touchdown reception.

Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints

Result: 44-13 loss to Seahawks

Grupe made 2 short field goals, but he missed a 52-yarder as well.

Robert Hainsey (2017-20), C, Jacksonville Jaguars

Result: 17-10 win over Texans

Hainsey allowed his first 2 pressures of the season, but he earned a 68.3 PFF run-blocking grade.

Kyle Hamilton (2019-21), S, Baltimore Ravens

Result: 38-30 loss to Lions

Hamilton made 9 tackles and allowed 2 catches for 31 yards in coverage.

Thomas Harper (2023), S, Detroit Lions

Result: 38-30 win over Ravens

Harper was a healthy scratch.

Cam Hart (2019-23), CB, Los Angeles Chargers

Result: 23-20 win over Broncos

Hart missed Week 3 with a hip injury.

JJ Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers

Result: 30-0 win over Falcons

Jansen snapped 9 times successfully, 6 on field goals and 3 on punts.

Javontae Jean-Baptiste (2023), DE, Washington Commanders

Result: 41-24 win over Raiders

Jean-Baptiste recorded his first sack of the season and second of his career.

Jack Kiser (2019-24), LB, Jacksonville Jaguars

Result: 17-10 win over Texans

Kiser played 12 snaps on special teams.

Cole Kmet (2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears

Result: 31-14 win over Cowboys

Kmet caught his lone target for a 10-yard touchdown.

Riley Leonard (2024), QB, Indianapolis Colts

Result: 41-20 win over Titans

Leonard — the only former Notre Dame quarterback on an active NFL roster — was a healthy scratch with an “emergency third quarterback” designation (meaning he could have played if and only if the two active QBs got hurt).

Marist Liufau (2019-23), LB, Dallas Cowboys

Result: 31-14 loss to Bears

Liufau played 8 defensive snaps and was credited with allowing a 31-yard reception.

Julian Love (2015-18), S, Seattle Seahawks

Result: 44-13 win over Saints

Love missed Week 3 with a hamstring injury.

Michael Mayer (2021-23), TE, Las Vegas Raiders

Result: 41-24 loss to Commanders

Mayer did not catch his lone target.

Nick McCloud (2020), CB, Chicago Bears

Result: 31-14 win over Cowboys

McCloud made 5 tackles, including 2 defensive stops (tackles that result in a failure for the offense). He also allowed 3 receptions for 49 yards on 4 targets.

Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OT, Denver Broncos

Result: 23-20 loss to Chargers

McGlinchey allowed 4 pressures and was given a 57.9 PFF offense grade.

Benjamin Morrison (2022-24), CB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Result: 29-27 win over Jets

Morrison played 18 snaps off the bench, allowing 2 receptions on 2 targets for just 5 yards. He made 2 tackles, including this tackle for loss.

Quenton Nelson (2014-17), G, Indianapolis Colts

Result: 41-20 win over Titans

Nelson allowed 1 pressure, but he finished with a 68.8 PFF run-blocking grade.

Jarrett Patterson (2018-22), C, Houston Texans

Result: 17-10 loss to Jaguars

Patterson played 3 snaps on special teams.

Spencer Shrader (2023), K, Indianapolis Colts

Result: 41-20 win over Titans

Shrader made 2 field goals with a long of 36, but he missed a 51-yarder. That was his first miss of the season.

Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers

Result: 21-14 win over Patriots

Skowronek played 12 snaps on special teams. He has not been targeted since his touchdown in Week 1.

Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings

Result: 48-10 win over Bengals

Smith (illness) made his season debut with 22 snaps off the bench. He made 1 assisted tackle, but he also made this incredible pass breakup that led to an interception.

Chris Smith (2022), DT, Detroit Lions

Result: 38-30 win over Ravens

Smith was a healthy scratch.

Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Chicago Bears

Result: 31-14 win over Cowboys

Smythe played 23 offensive snaps, 20 of which came as a blocker.

Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OT, Baltimore Ravens

Result: 38-30 loss to Lions

Stanley allowed 1 of the Lions’ 7 sacks on Monday night, but he still earned an 81.3 PFF pass-blocking grade.

Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DT, Kansas City Chiefs

Result: 22-9 win over Giants

Tillery notched a QB pressure, but he missed his lone tackle attempt.

Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Kansas City Chiefs

Result: 22-9 win over Giants

Tranquill made 5 tackles, but he earned an 89.4 PFF defense grade — primarily for his work in coverage.

Tommy Tremble (2018-20), TE, Carolina Panthers

Result: 30-0 win over Falcons

Tremble caught 2 passes for 16 yards.

Xavier Watts (2020-24), S, Atlanta Falcons

Result: 30-0 loss to Panthers

Watts made 9 tackles, including 2 defensive stops. Notably, he has not been credited with a missed tackle yet this season.

Brock Wright (2017-20), TE, Detroit Lions

Result: 38-30 win over Ravens

Wright was not targeted.

Former Notre Dame players on NFL practice squads

Former Notre Dame players on injured reserve