Donald Dykes Class: Senior Hometown: Hammond, LA High School: Hammond Height / Weight: 5-11 / 195 Position: Strong Safety Birthdate: 03/10/1980 HS Coach: Carmon Moore

AS A SENIOR: Starter at strong safety in first seven games and in eight of nine games he played for Irish in 2001. . .fourth in tackles for the Irish in 2001 with 28 solos and 20 assisted tackles (48 total) . . .recorded a career-high 13 tackles and had a fumble recovery vs. Nebraska after having only 18 tackles all of 2000 season and 31 tackles in his career. . .made five tackles vs. Michigan State…made seven tackles vs. Texas A&M …recorded first career tackle for a loss vs. Pittsburgh…recorded three tackles and his second career fumble recovery vs. USC. . .tied for team lead in tackles with six vs. Boston College . . .missed the Tennessee and Navy games with an ankle injury…returned in a reserve role vs. Stanford…recorded first career sack vs. Stanford…returned to starting line-up vs. Purdue and recorded three tackles.

AS A JUNIOR: Reserve defensive back for Irish in 2000 . . . saw action in secondary in nickel and dime packages in 11 games (missing only vs. Air Force), including vs. Oregon State in 2001 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl . . . matched career high with three tackles vs. Purdue and Navy . . . made first career start vs. Rutgers as Irish opened in dime package . . . made one solo tackle vs. Oregon State in Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, plus a sack for two-yard loss . . . led team with 235 regular-season special team appearances, then tied for team lead in Tostitos Fiesta Bowl vs. Oregon State with 18 more.

AS A SOPHOMORE: Played in every game in 1999, working as backup cornerback . . . made three tackles in first career game appearance vs. Kansas and added three more vs. Pittsburgh and two vs. Boston College . . . made 160 special team appearances in '99 . . . listed behind Deveron Harper at corner in '99.

AS A FRESHMAN: Did not see varsity action as rookie defensive back in '98 . . . missed most of the '98 season after suffering a fractured left clavicle in practice Sept. 16.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Named to Super Southern 100 by Atlanta Journal-Constitution . . . second-team All-South defensive back by Fox Sports South . . . earned three letters in football as defensive back and receiver ('95 season) at Hammond High School in Hammond, La. . . . had three interceptions as senior, including one returned for a touchdown, plus four caused fumbles, three fumble recoveries and five passes broken up . . . made 80 tackles as senior from free safety spot . . . named district MVP in '97 . . . helped '97 team from 0-4 start to 10-4 mark and berth in state playoff semifinals . . . team captain as senior . . . all-state, all-city and all-conference in '97 . . . had 75 tackles, four interceptions and three fumble recoveries as junior . . . earned four letters in track (sprinter) . . . father Donald Sr. played for New York Jets (1979-81 after being picked in third round of '79 draft) and San Diego Chargers (1982) and now coaches defensive backs at Delta State after playing at Southeastern Louisiana . . . former prep teammate of current Irish senior cornerback Brock Williams . . . full name is Donald DeJuan Dykes . . . younger of two children . . . born 3-10-80 in Bogalusa, La. . . . earned 3.083 grade-point average during '98 fall semester . . . enrolled in College of Arts and Letters with major in economics.

The Donald Dykes File

I chose Notre Dame because of academics and athletics
My favorite place on campus is my dorm room
The Irish offensive player who will surprise people this year is Arnaz Battle
The Irish defensive player who will surprise people this year is Donald Dykes
Words to describe me on the field are quiet storm
Words to describe me off the field are laid back
The people who have helped me the most since I've been at Notre Dame are Coach Marotti, my coaches and my professors
The best advice I have ever been given is "Do well in the classroom and everything else will take care of itself"
If I could bring anything from my hometown it would be food
When my football days are over I will be working
I would like to switch places for the day with the President
If I could have dinner with any three people in history, they would be Martin Luther King, Jr., Moses and Abraham Lincoln
If I could compete against any Notre Dame athlete (non-football), it would be Harold Swanagan (men's basketball)
Who will Notre Dame play in the 2002 Rose Bowl for the national championship? Florida State