Debuted each year at the OSCARS - the year-end highlight video provides a look back at all 26 varsity sports competed at the University of Notre Dame and is created in cooperation with the Student Welfare and Development Office and LeSea Broadcasting.
Senior linebacker grabs two interceptions in pacing defense that forced six turnovers and did not allow a touchdown.
JUNIOR SEASON (2012): Appeared in 11 games, with two starts (did not play vs. Navy and Alabama; started vs. Miami and BYU) ... completed 34 of 59 passes for 436 yards and two touchdowns ... led the Irish offense into position for the game-winning field goal against Purdue (Sept. 8), connecting on three of six throws for 35 yards on the scoring drive ... logged a season-high eight completions for 115 yards in the home victory over Michigan (Sept. 22) ... scored the only touchdown of the game against the Wolverines on a two-yard rush ... earned first start of the season against Miami (Oct. 6) at Soldier Field ... finished a perfect four for four through the air, and gunned the game winning seven-yard touchdown strike to TJ Jones in overtime against Stanford (Oct. 13) ... threw for 116 yards and one touchdown in a starting effort against BYU (Oct. 20) ... completed six passes against Pittsburgh (Nov. 3).
SOPHOMORE SEASON (2011): Started 12 games for the Irish, while appearing in all 13 ... took over for then-starter Dayne Crist at halftime of South Florida game, and started the remaining 12 games ... passed for over 200 yards in eight games ... threw multiple TDs in six games ... threw at least one touchdown pass in 11 straight games from 2010 to 2011, which ranks third for the longest streak in school history ... threw for 2,871 yards and 20 TDs on the year ... completed 65.5 percent of passes, the second-best completion percentage in a season by any Notre Dame QB ... tied school record by completing 14 consecutive passes at one point ... completed 135 consecutive passes without an interception, the third-longest streak in school history ... ranked in the top five in school history in single-season passes attempted, completed, TD passes and passing yards ... put together strong game in a 38-10 victory over Purdue, throwing for 254 yards and three scores ... tied career high with four TD passes, all coming in the first half, in a victory over Air Force ... four TD passes in first half tied with Brady Quinn for most in a half in Irish history ... named College Football Performance Awards Honorable Mention Quarterback and FBS Independent Offensive Player of the Week (Oct. 11) for effort against the Falcons ... produced most efficient game of season in win vs. Maryland, going 30 for 38 (79.0 percent) for 296 yards and two TDs ... named FBS Independent Offensive Player of the Week (Nov. 14) for performance against the Terrapins ... threw for 315 yards and three TDs at Michigan ... also had two TD tosses against South Florida and Wake Forest.
FRESHMAN SEASON (2010): Played in nine games for the Irish, starting four contests (Utah, Army, USC and Miami) ... led Irish to four straight victories including a Hyundai Sun Bowl victory over Miami (Fla.) as the starting quarterback ... became the first freshman quarterback in Notre Dame history to ever lead the Irish to a victory in a bowl game ... completed 61.0 percent of his passes (100 of 164) for 1,106 yards and 12 touchdowns ... registered a passing efficiency of 132.70 ... recorded 17 completions of 20 yards or more ... completed 66.7 percent (40 of 60) of his passes on first down ... set a single-season freshman school record with 12 TD passes ... established a single-season freshman record in completion percentage ... ranked among the top five in the following categories for Irish freshman quarterbacks: passing yards (second, 1,106), passing efficiency (second, 132.70), pass attempts (third, 164), completions (third, 100) and games played (t-fourth, 9) ... made career debut against Michigan, but attempted two passes, one of which was intercepted, without a completion ... saw action late in the game against Navy, but guided the Irish on a touchdown drive ... went six of seven for 79 yards on the scoring drive ... replaced Dayne Crist following his season-ending injury against Tulsa ... proceeded to complete 33 of 54 passes for 334 yards and four TDs vs. Tulsa ... was the first Irish freshman quarterback to ever throw four TD passes in a single game ... the 334 yards passing was the most ever by a quarterback that did not start the game ... his 300-yard game was the 35th in school history and second ever by a Notre Dame freshman ... Brady Quinn was the only other freshman signal-caller to throw for at least 300 yards in a single game (350, Oct. 25, 2003 at Boston College) ... started the final three games of the regular season at national sports landmarks (Notre Dame Stadium, Yankee Stadium and the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum) ... ninth freshman quarterback to start for the Irish in the last 60 seasons (1951-present), joining Ralph Guglielmi (1951), Blair Kiel (1980), Steve Beuerlein (1983), Kent Graham (1987), Paul Failla (1991), Matt LoVecchio (2000), Brady Quinn (2003) and Jimmy Clausen (2007) ... became the first Irish freshman quarterback to knock off a top-20 opponent since Blair Kiel helped Notre Dame get past No. 13 Miami, (Fla.), 32-14 ... completed 13 of 20 passes for 129 yards and three touchdowns in the victory over Utah ... his three TD passes were the most by a freshman in his first career start in school history ... he also threw for the fourth-most yards ever by an Irish quarterback in his first start ... threw seven TD passes in back-to-back outings against Tulsa (four) and Utah (three) ... the seven TD passes in consecutive games were the third-most TD passes over a two-game stretch in school history ... only Brady Quinn has ever thrown more TD passes in two consecutive games ... Quinn had nine TD passes over back-to-back games in 2009 and twice had eight TD passes in consecutive games in 2006 ... threw for 214 yards and completed 13 of 20 passes for the second straight game in the victory over Army ... collected another TD pass against the Black Knights ... closed out the regular season connecting on 20 of 32 pass attempts for 149 yards and two TDs at USC ... the first rookie Notre Dame quarterback to knock off USC since Matt LoVecchio in 2000 ... completed 15 of 29 passes for 201 yards and two TDs in the Hyundai Sun Bowl victory over Miami (Fla.) ... threw two or more TD passes in four of the last five games of 2010.
HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Completed 215 of 308 passes for 2,572 yards and 23 touchdowns as senior in 2009 at Lake Forest High School in Lake Forest, Ill. ... threw for 526 yards and six TDs in one 2009 game versus Bradford (Wis.) ... also threw for five TDs and 348 yards in 2009 vs. Warren ... as junior in 2008 completed 195 of 344 passes for 2,170 yards and 21 TDs (including four in 65-52 win over Wauconda) in seasons that ended with Illinois Class 6A first-round playoff loss to Lemont ... played basketball at Lake Forest until he enrolled at Notre Dame in January 2010 ... started final six games at quarterback for Lake Forest as sophomore in 2007 ... brother Danny was punter and holder at UCLA ... father Bill is former assistant coach and recruiting coordinator for years at UCLA (1979-93) under Terry Donohue, also has worked in scouting and pro personnel for Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers - after playing quarterback at Ohio Wesleyan and serving as an assistant coach at Northwestern (1976-78) for three years ... played for coach Chuck Spagnoli at Lake Forest ... son of Bill and Susan Rees ... enrolled in Mendoza College of Business as management-consulting major.
