Kyle McCarthy Class: Senior Hometown: Youngstown, OH High School: Cardinal Mooney Height / Weight: 6-1 / 210 Position: Safety Birthdate: 09/30/1986

CAREER: Approved for a fifth year by Notre Dame's Faculty Board on Athletics ... blossomed into a very dependable and reliable safety in 2008 during his first season as a full-time starter ... has appeared in all 38 games over the past three seasons and made 14 career starts for the Irish ... key special teams player through his first two seasons and has registered team-best 500 special teams appearances at Notre Dame ... tallied 139 career tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss, three interceptions, two pass breakups and one forced fumble ... set school record for most tackles by a defensive back in a season in 2008 ... rated as the 21st-best strong safety in the country by Phil Steele for 2009.

2008 (SENIOR): Started in all 13 games for the Irish at strong safety ... amassed a team-high 110 total tackles, becoming the first Notre Dame defensive back to ever eclipse 100 tackles in a single season ... recorded three tackles for a loss and also intercepted two passes ... set a then career-high and also led the team in tackles with 14 (10 solo, four assists) in the season opening victory vs. San Diego State ... also assisted on a tackle for a loss vs. the Aztecs ... notched his second best game in tackles with 10 (seven solo, three assists) in win over Michigan ... recorded nine tackles (solo; eight assists) against Michigan State ... matched his then-career high in tackles with 14 (seven solo, seven assist) against Stanford ... also intercepted a ball (second of career) and recorded a tackle for a loss vs. the Cardinal ... registered a career-high 15 tackles (seven solo; eight assists), including two stops for a loss against Pittsburgh ... recorded eight tackles (five solo; three assists) while helping limit Boston College to just three of 14 on third down conversions ... started for the 10th time in his career vs. the Eagles ... recorded seven tackles (four solo; three assists), eclipsing 100 tackles on the season against USC ... intercepted a pass vs. the Trojans as well ... tallied seven tackles (six solo. assist) and had a pass break-up in bowl game victory over Hawai'i ... logged 324:04 of playing time with 156 special-teams appearances.

2007 (JUNIOR): Saw his playing time nearly double as he became a reliable defender against the run ... played in all 12 games and started first game of his career (vs. Navy) ... recorded career highs in all categories, totaling 20 tackles and adding one interception, one forced fumble and one pass breakup ... made three solo tackles at Purdue and intercepted first pass vs. Boilermakers at the end of the first half ... tallied three tackles vs. USC ... started vs. Navy and responded with career-high seven tackles ... recorded one tackle, one pass breakup and one forced fumble in home finale vs. Duke ... logged 80:26 of playing time and made 177 special-teams appearances - third-most on the team (Travis Thomas, 243; Tom Zbikowski, 192).

2006 (SOPHOMORE): Saw action in all 13 games for the Irish on special teams ... recorded a total of nine tackles (six solo) ... logged 4:27 of playing time with 167 special-teams appearances.

2005 (FRESHMAN): Did not see game action ... was named the look team's player of the week for his performance at quarterback in practices leading up to the Navy game.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Graduated from Cardinal Mooney High School in Youngstown, Ohio ... as a senior, rushed 135 times for 1,273 yards and 14 TDs and completed 32 of 74 passes for 557 yards and five TDs at quarterback ... on defense in 2004, he had 70 tackles and five interceptions ... returned two interceptions for scores at defensive back in 2004, including a record 93-yard return in the state championship game ... made 13 punt returns for 240 yards and two TDs in 2004 ... was MVP of the 2004 state title game ... a 2004 all-state honoree at quarterback, he was an all-conference honoree at receiver in 2003 ... named the 2004 Tri-County Player of the Year ... helped Cardinal Mooney to Ohio State prep title in 2004 ... also played baseball, setting a school record with 20 stolen bases in 2004 ... as a pitcher, he posted a 3.74 earned-run average and a 7-1 record ... coached in football by P.J. Fecko ... earned five varsity letters at Cardinal Mooney (three in baseball, two in football) ... full name is Kyle Justin McCarthy ... one of four children ... son of John and Janet McCarthy ... younger brother, Dan, is a sophomore on the Irish football team in `09 .. grandfather, Jack Mayo, attended Notre Dame from `43-'47 and was captain of the baseball team his final year ... older brother, Brian, also attended Notre Dame and graduated in `06 ... born Sept. 30, 1986, in Youngstown, Ohio ... graduated from the Mendoza College of Business with a degree in finance ... earned 3.133 grade-point average during `06 spring semester ... currently enrolled in the graduate studies program.

McCarthy's Career Statistics