Two former Notre Dame stars appear early on the 2024 NFL Top 100 List, several more to come

Every offseason, NFL fans lose their minds over NFL Network releasing its top 100 list ahead of the upcoming season. The 2024 NFL Top 100 will be released beginning on July 22nd to August 1st, releasing ten players at a time. These lists are voted on by current NFL players, marking the 14th edition of the list overall.

We have already had the No. 81 through No. 100 players revealed on the list, which included two former Notre Dame football players so far. They were Minnesota safety Harrison Smith (No. 93) and Seattle Seahawks safety Julian Love. Smith has frequented these lists over the last decade, while this was the first time Love was included.

It has been a long and successful tenure with the Vikings for Smith. Originally selected by the team with the No. 29 overall selected in the first round of the 2012 NFL Draft, the “Hitman” has been a fan favorite in Minnesota. During his 12-year career with the Vikings, Smith has made six Pro Bowls and been selected All-Pro once. Smith has collected 1,039 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, 34 interceptions, 86 pass breakups and 12 forced fumbles.

If you think back to his Notre Dame career, there aren’t any Irish fans who are overly surprised with how good Smith has been. There’s a good chance he can be enshrined in Canton someday with his run of excellent play.

While Love was also a tremendous player when he wore the blue and gold, his road has been much different than Smith’s. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the New York Giants, earning more and more playing time during his four years with the team.

Love’s breakout came in the final year with the Giants in 2022, collecting a career high with 124 total tackles and six tackles for loss. Love also intercepted two passes that year, while also adding a sack and breaking up another five passes. He earned a two-year, 12 million dollar deal with the Seattle Seahawks last offseason.

That contract has already paid off tremendously. Love just put together his finest season in the NFL, totaling 123 tackles, four interceptions and 10 pass breakups. He was honored with his first Pro Bowl selection following that outstanding campaign. Along with Baltimore Raven star Kyle Familton, Notre Dame now has three of the finest safeties in the league.