Notre Dame in the NFL: Nick McCloud picks up first NFL interception
Playing time has occasionally been hard to come by for former Notre Dame and current New York Giants cornerback Nick McCloud. But in 28 snaps against the Washington Commanders on Sunday, McCloud made a big impact.
McCloud intercepted Commanders quarterback Sam Howell in the first quarter. It was his first career interception and it jump-started a 31-19 Giants win.
The 2021 undrafted free agent also forced a fumble, defended a pass and made 4 tackles. He finished with a 91.4 overall grade, which ranked third in the NFL for Week 11. A scan through the website formerly known as Twitter indicates Giants fans like McCloud, whom New York claimed off waivers after he was cut by the Cincinnati Bengals on Aug. 31, 2022.
Here’s how every former Notre Dame player in the NFL did in Week 11.
Brandon Aubrey (played for Notre Dame from 2013-16), K, Dallas Cowboys
Result: 33-10 win over Panthers
Aubrey missed an extra point for the first time since Week 1, but the former Notre Dame men’s soccer player remains perfect on field goals this sesaon. He went 2-for-2.
Aaron Banks (2017-20), OL, San Francisco 49ers
Result: 27-14 win over Buccaneers
Banks allowed two quarterback hits and didn’t grade well in the run game. He finished with a 49.2 overall Pro Football Focus grade.
Miles Boykin (2015-18), WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
Result: 13-10 loss to Browns
Boykin was not targeted in 6 offensive snaps.
Chase Claypool (2016-19), WR, Miami Dolphins
Result: 20-13 win over Raiders
Claypool is week-to-week, according Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, after undergoing a minor knee procedure during Miami’s Week 10 bye.
Scott Daly (2012-16), LS, Detroit Lions
Result: 31-26 win over Bears
Daly snapped successfully 8 times, 7 on kicks and 1 on a punt.
Liam Eichenberg (2016-20), OL, Miami Dolphins
Result: 20-13 win over Raiders
Eichenberg played one of his better games this season, allowing only 1 pressure and finishing with a 69.1 overall PFF grade.
Isaiah Foskey (2019-22), DE, New Orleans Saints
Result: BYE
Alohi Gilman (2017-19), S, Los Angeles Chargers
Result: 23-20 loss to Packers
Gilman made 9 tackles, including 1 for loss. Six of those tackles were defensive stops. He allowed 4 receptions on 4 targets, but for only 26 yards.
Blake Grupe (2022), K, New Orleans Saints
Result: BYE
Robert Hainsey (2017-20), OL, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Result: 27-14 loss to 49ers
Hainsey allowed 2 pressures but did well as a run blocker. His overall PFF grade was 64.9.
Kyle Hamilton (2019-2021), S, Baltimore Ravens
Result: 34-20 win over Bengals
Hamilton made 3 tackles and defended 2 passes. He added a pressure on 1 of his 4 pass-rush snaps and only gave up 2 catches for 14 yards on 4 targets.
Kurt Hinish (2017-21), DT, Houston Texans
Result: 21-16 win over Cardinals
Hinish added 1 quarterback pressure and graded well (76.8) as a run defender. He plays a consistent 20-30 snaps per game, give or take a few, as a rotational defensive tackle.
J.J. Jansen (2004-07), LS, Carolina Panthers
Result: 33-10 loss to Cowboys
Jansen made 8 successful snaps, 6 on punts and 2 on kicks.
Cole Kmet (2017-19), TE, Chicago Bears
Result: 31-26 loss to Lions
Kmet caught 5 passes for 44 yards on 7 targets. Michael Mayer‘s predecessor at Notre Dame having a solid season, epitomizing a good but not great tight end. Good tight ends are hard to come by, which is why the Bears locked him up with a hefty contract extension before the season.
Julian Love (2016-18), DB, Seattle Seahawks
Result: 17-16 loss to Rams
Love made 7 tackles and defended a pass. He gave up 2 receptions on 4 targets for 26 yards.
Zack Martin (2009-13), OL, Dallas Cowboys
Result: 33-10 win over Panthers
Martin allowed 4 pressures and was given a 54.6 overall grade.
Michael Mayer (2020-22), TE, Las Vegas Raiders
Result: 20-13 loss to Dolphins
Mayer caught 4 passes on 5 targets for 46 yards.
Mike McGlinchey (2013-17), OL, Denver Broncos
Result: 21-20 win over Vikings
McGlinchey gave up 2 pressures, including a quarterback hit. He was given a 65.2 overall grade.
Sam Mustipher (2014-18), OL, Baltimore Ravens
Result: 34-20 win over Bengals
Mustipher was active but did not play.
Quenton Nelson (2014-17), OL, Indianapolis Colts
Result: BYE
Julian Okwara (2016-19), EDGE, Detroit Lions
Result: 31-26 win over Bears
Okwara totaled 2 quarterback pressures in 10 pass-rush snaps.
Romeo Okwara (2012-15), DL, Detroit Lions
Result: 31-26 win over Bears
Okwara played 12 snaps but was held off the stat sheet.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (2017-20), LB, Cleveland Browns
Result: 13-10 win over Steelers
Owusu-Koramoah, a Rover at Notre Dame, made 7 tackles, including 3 defensive stops. He was also credited with 3 missed tackles.
Jarrett Patterson (2018-22), OL, Houston Texans
Result: 21-16 win over Cardinals
Patterson only allowed 1 pressure but was given a 37.7 pass-blocking grade.
Isaac Rochell (2013-16), DE, free agent
Result: N/A
Rochell was released by the Raiders hours after the team posted a feature video about him.
Ben Skowronek (2020), WR, Los Angeles Rams
Result: 17-16 win over Seahawks
Skorwonek was not targeted.
Durham Smythe (2013-17), TE, Miami Dolphins
Result: 20-13 win over Raiders
Smythe missed Week 11 with an ankle injury. He’s not expected to be out long-term.
Harrison Smith (2007-11), S, Minnesota Vikings
Result: 21-20 loss to Broncos
Smith made 5 tackles, including 2 run stops. He was only targeted once, which resuletd in a 1-yard catch.
Ronnie Stanley (2012-15), OL, Baltimore Ravens
Result: 34-20 win over Bengals
After suffereing a knee injury in Week 10, Stanley missed Thursday night’s game. It’s another tough break for the 2019 All-Pro and former Top-10 pick out of Notre Dame, who hasn’t been consistently healthy since that season. He was not placed on injured reserve, though.
Jerry Tillery (2015-18), DL, Las Vegas Raiders
Result: 20-13 loss to Dolphins
Tillery made 2 tackles and added a QB pressure.
Drue Tranquill (2014-18), LB, Kansas City Chiefs
Result: 21-17 loss to Eagles
Tranquill made 7 tackles, including a tackle for loss and 3 run stops. He was targeted 4 times, and he allowed 3 receptions for 22 yards.
Tommy Tremble (2018-20), TE, Carolina Panthers
Result: 33-10 loss to Cowboys
Tremble caught a 4-yard touchdown pass, his third of the season.
Kyren Williams (2019-21), RB Los Angeles Rams
Result: 17-16 win over Seahawks
Williams has been on IR since Week 6, but according to Rams head coach Sean McVay, he is expected to return in Week 12. Williams was one of the most productive backs in football when he played this season, and certainly the most productive out of Notre Dame. He has 97 carries for 456 yards and 6 touchdowns.
Brock Wright (2017-20), TE, Detroit Lions
Result: 31-26 win over Bears
Wright was not targeted.
