US LBM Coaches Poll No. 2 Notre Dame has had its fair share of great players at the wide receiver position in the program’s history.
Earlier this week, ESPN ranked college football’s best 60 receivers of the last 50 years. Two Fighting Irish legends – Tim Brown and Golden Tate – made the list.
Brown came in at No. 8 on the list. He played for Notre Dame from 1984-87 and had 137 catches for 2,493 yards and 12 touchdowns. Brown also compiled 442 rushing yards, four rushing scores, three kick return TDs and three punt return TDs.
“Brown only sort of counted as a receiver at Notre Dame – like Rocket Ismail after him, he did a little bit of everything after Lou Holtz took over,” ESPN’s Bill Connelly said. “In two seasons with Holtz, he caught 84 passes for 1,756 yards, rushed 93 times for 398 yards, scored 11 touchdowns from scrimmage and, oh yeah, served as the scariest return man on the planet with two scores on kickoffs and three on punts. He was rewarded for his efforts with a Heisman Trophy (in 1987).”
Tate, who played at Notre Dame in 2007-09, is in the 45th spot of Connelly’s list. He recorded 157 catches for 2,707 yards and 26 TDs in his college career.
Aside from receptions, Tate also had 227 rushing yards and three scores and a punt return TD.
“After catching just six passes as a freshman, Tate ignited, first to 58 catches for 1,080 yards in 2008, then a Biletnikoff Award-winning 93 for 1,496 as a junior,” Connelly said. “Bonus points for a memorable leap into the Michigan State band.”
Ranking the top 60 CFB WRs of the last 50 years 📈@ESPN_BillC looks at where Jeremiah Smith's career fits among the best ever 👀
— ESPN College Football (@ESPNCFB) October 14, 2026
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: ESPN includes 2 Notre Dame greats in list of best college football WRs