Former Notre Dame great would go to the extreme to experience the historic day coming for the Hoosier State
When the final College Football Playoff bracket was announced, many Notre Dame fans were somewhat disappointed to find out the team would be facing off against the Indiana Hoosiers in the first round. It’s not because Indiana isn’t a quality team, but because most were hoping for a bigger brand to head up North to […]
When the final College Football Playoff bracket was announced, many Notre Dame fans were somewhat disappointed to find out the team would be facing off against the Indiana Hoosiers in the first round. It’s not because Indiana isn’t a quality team, but because most were hoping for a bigger brand to head up North to South Bend.
When the dust finally settled, most were incredibly excited about the opportunity and path that was laid out. That includes former Fighting Irish star linebacker Drue Tranquill. He did not hide his excitement for the matchup, and what it means for the state of Indiana.
“I’d sell my house to be inside Notre Dame Stadium on December 20th” is quite the statement for an NFL player, whose house is certainly probably quite expensive. It just speaks to the meaning behind the game, especially for a player like Tranquill who is from the great state of Indiana, and takes pride in his background.
For those who don’t know much about Tranquill’s background, he attended Carroll High School in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Before eventually opting for Notre Dame, Tranquill was initially committed to the Purdue Boilermakers. That flip obviously ended up working out big time in the long run.
Tranquill spent five seasons with the Notre Dame program. He dealt with injuries in the early stages of his career, but eventually became a stellar contributor during his time in the blue and gold. While spending time at safety, rover, and linebacker, Tranquill recorded 293 total tackles, 26 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, and three interceptions. He also forced a fumble, recovered another five, and broke up 11 passes.
After his time with the Irish, he was selected in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL Draft by the Los Angeles Chargers. Tranquill spent four seasons with the Chargers before signing with the Kansas City Chiefs before the 2023 season. In total, he has recorded 449 total tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 12.5 sacks, and one interception.
