Band Of Brothers, Notre Dame Style
This weekend Notre Dame received verbal pledges from junior Jersey City (N.J.) St. Peter’s Prep twin brothers: 6-3, 265-pound defensive end Jayson Ademilola and 6-3, 234-pound outside linebacker Justin Ademilola.
They became the first set of twins to join the Irish since George and Josh Atkinson in 2011, but are hardly the first set of brothers who will play together with the Fighting Irish. During Notre Dame’s 2012 march to the BCS Championship game, it had four sets of brothers on the team: the aforementioned Atkinsons (George was third in rushing with 361 yards), fifth-year senior Mike Golic Jr. (starting right guard) and younger brother Jake, senior Zack Martin (the starting left tackle) and reserve tackle Nick, and the walk-on tandem of Chris and Will Salvi, with special teams demon/safety Chris earning a scholarship for his fifth season.
There have been dozens of brother who played football at Notre Dame from A (quarterback Frank Allocco and halfback Rich Allocco in the 1970s) through Z (quarterback Bill Zloch and defensive back Chuck Zloch in the 1960s, plus DB Jim in 1972-73).
In one case, Elmer Layden, one of the legendary Four Horsemen from 1922-24, was the head coach of the Irish in 1935 when brother Mike Layden was his starting right halfback.
In 1970 as a senior, Larry DiNardo was a consensus All-America pick at offensive guard — and four years later younger brother Gerry DiNardo repeated the feat at the same position.
The “First Family” of Notre Dame was the Millers in the early part of the 20th century. From 1909 through 1924, four different Miller brothers starred at Notre Dame, from former captain Harry in 1909 to Four Horseman Don in 1924. Harry’s son, Creighton, would lead the nation in rushing for Notre Dame’s 1943 national champions.
What were the greatest single-season brother combinations at Notre Dame? Here is our Top 5:
1. Ross & Jim Browner (1975-77) — During the national title campaign in 1977, senior defensive end Ross finished fifth in the Heisman Trophy balloting and won both the Lombardi Award and Maxwell Award, while junior strong safety Jim was sixth in tackles with 73, plus he recovered a school single-season record six fumbles.
A year earlier, Ross won the Outland Trophy while Jim recorded 80 stops. A third brother, Willard, played fullback in 1976 as a freshman before transferring. In a 1976 victory at South Carolina (13-6), Willard scored the game’s lone touchdown, Jim made an interception in the closing minutes deep in South Carolina territory to help secure the victory and Ross was named National Lineman of the Week for his efforts in the game.
2. Mike & Willie Townsend (1971-73) — During the 1972 season, All-America cornerback Mike led the nation in interceptions with 10 (still the single season Notre Dame record), while wide receiver Willie paced the Irish in receiving with 25 catches for 369 yards and four touchdowns.
The following year, Mike was a tri-captain for the national champs and moved to free safety, while Willie was the backup for Pete Demmerle at split end. The two also helped out as walk-ons on Digger Phelps’ first two basketball teams at Notre Dame in 1971-72 and 1972-73.
3. Dave & Tim Huffman (1977-78) — Dave was the starting center from 1976-78, while offensive guard Tim played the most minutes of any freshman on the 1977 national champs. The following season they started next to each other in the last nine games, plus the Cotton Bowl. The Irish went 9-1 during that stretch, losing only to co-national champ USC on a controversial call in the final minute to finish No. 7 in the Associated Press poll.
4. Tony & Reggie Brooks (1989-1991) — The 1990 backfield was so overstocked with quality runners, junior Tony rushed for 451 yards while sophomore Reggie was shifted to cornerback and made a late interception to help preserve a 28-24 victory against Michigan in the opener.
Tony would finish his career 6th in school history in rushing yards, while a monster 1992 season placed Reggie fifth in the Heisman balloting and made him a second-round NFL pick.
5. Zack & Nick Martin (2012-13) — They may be the only tandem in college football history to serve as captains not just for one season, but two apiece. Left tackle Zack could have been a high draft pick in 2013, but one of the reasons why he returned for a fifth season was the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to start with Nick, who had been shifted to center. The 9-4 season was only okay, but the duo helped Notre Dame finish second nationally in fewest sacks allowed. Nick started the first 11 games at center before a season ending injury sidelined him.