Fansided

Best Notre Dame football players: Modern-era Mount Rushmore

By Cody Williams

SOUTH BEND, IN - CIRCA 1986: Tim Brown #81 of Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs with the ball during an NCAA Football game circa 1986 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - CIRCA 1986: Tim Brown #81 of Notre Dame Fighting Irish runs with the ball during an NCAA Football game circa 1986 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
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Best Notre Dame football players
(Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

Raghib Ismail arrived in South Bend in the 1988 season under Lou Holtz and replaced another player who makes the Notre Dame football Mount Rushmore, essentially. However, it wasn’t until his sophomore season when he really started getting utilized as he notched only 12 receptions — though those went for 331 yards and two touchdowns — and had 12 kick returns for 433 yards and two scores along with five punt returns for 72 yards.

His big-play ability earned him the nickname Rocket and it was apt as he was a home-run threat at all times. As a sophomore, Ismail rushed for 478 yards and two scores on 64 carries, had 27 receptions for 535 yards, had 20 kick returns for 502 yards and two touchdowns and returned seven punts for 113 yards and a touchdown.

Ismail’s crown jewel was his 1990 campaign as he finished second in the Heisman Trophy race. Rocket rushed for 537 yards and three touchdowns on 67 totes, had 32 receptions for 699 yards and two scores, took 14 kick returns for 336 yards and a score and also had 151 punt return yards.

The sad truth is that the overall counting stats don’t do Ismail justice for how electric, dominant and fun he was, which honestly probably speaks to Holtz not using him enough. But with a National Championship on his credit career averages of 7.7 yards per carry, 22.0 yards per reception, 27.6 yards per kick return and 13.4 yards per punt return, it’s clear that Ismail is an icon in South Bend.