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February 18, 2010
Notre Dame’s Best Recruiting Classes: No. 11
by
LOU SOMOGYI
Senior Editor
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The class ratings were based on 1) impact on the program through production and on-field results, 2) balance at the various positions and 3) overall depth in number of major producers.
THE 1950 RECRUITING CLASS
Players Originally Signed: Approximately 30, although not all were on scholarship.
Record at Notre Dame from 1951-53: 23-4-3 (.817)
AP Final Rankings: No. 3 (1952), No. 2 (1953)
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Lattner was a Heisman Trophy winner for the Irish in 1953.
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Leaders in the Lineup
Halfback/Defensive Back: Johnny Lattner
Fullback/Linebacker: Neil Worden, Tom McHugh
Center/Defense: Jim Schrader
Guard/Defense: Menil “Minnie” Mavraides
Tackle/Defense: Art Hunter, Joe Bush
End/Defense: Don Penza, Fred Mangialardi
Kicker: Mavraides
Impact
In 1947, Notre Dame cut back football scholarships from 32 to 18. When that 1947 class became seniors in 1950 and the scholarship reductions fully kicked in, Notre Dame dropped from 36-0-2 in 1946-49 to 4-4-1 in 1950. Fortunately, the 1950 recruiting haul, led by 1953 Heisman Trophy winner Lattner, helped set the program back on the winning path when this large group (not all on scholarship) became eligible as sophomores in 1951. The Irish improved to 7-2-1 that year, and when this class became juniors in 1952, Notre Dame defeated four conference champs (Texas, Oklahoma, Purdue and USC) and tied a fifth (Penn) to finish No. 3 in the land.
In their senior season, they helped lead the Irish to a 9-0-1 finish and a No. 2 placement in both wire service polls.
Back then, the starters lined up on both offense and defense. Six of the 11 starters in 1953 came from this 1950 class — which would be like having 12 starters from one class today.
Six players from this group were named to at least one All-American team, and three were first-round NFL picks: Hunter (second pick), Lattner (seventh pick) and Worden (ninth pick).
Balance
The combined 3,763 yards career yards rushing by Worden (2,039) and Lattner (1,724), plus their 49 TDs, makes them — to this day — the school’s best halfback/fullback tandem from one class over a three-year period. When Lattner won the Heisman in 1953, Worden actually out-rushed him 859 to 651. But Lattner also was on of the nation’s top defenders (13 career interceptions) and return men.
In the trenches, this class featured the stellar quartet on offense and defense of center Schrader, right guard Mavraides, right tackle Hunter and right end Penza.
Hunter, one of the greatest and most versatile linemen in school history, started at center in 1951, end in 1952 and tackle in 1953, snaring 16 passes for 246 yards in ‘52 and playing the most minutes of anyone (423) in ‘53. The second pick of the 1954 NFL Draft excelled 12 years in the pros.
Schrader was good enough to start at center in 1952-53 and shift Hunter elsewhere. He was tabbed in the second round and played 11 seasons in the NFL.
Mavraides, who played guard and kicked 24 PATs plus a field goal as a senior, was a fourth-round draft pick.
Meanwhile, head coach Frank Leahy described Penza as "the best captain I ever had" — an awe-inspiring tribute in itself.
Depth
This was a crucial factor that prevented us from putting this haul in our top 10. Only about 25 percent of the class was a major contributor, although quality meant more in this class than quantity.
Backing up Worden was Tom McHugh, a sixth-round NFL pick whose 341 yards rushing in ‘53 was third to Worden and Lattner. Linemen Bush and Mangialardi were regulars.
This group lacked a marquee QB, yet Frank Paterra was a fourth-round pick.
Summary
Not many classes in college football history have had three top 10 NFL picks (Lattner, Worden and Hunter) plus three others (Schrader, Mavraides and Penza) joining them on at least one All-American squad. Very few post a glittering 6-1 ledger over their last two seasons versus the top 10.
Among the victories were the lone defeats handed to Bud Wilkinson’s Oklahoma Sooners in 1952-53, snapping Georgia Tech’s 31-game unbeaten streak in ‘53, winning at No. 5-ranked Texas in ‘52 and upsetting No. 2 USC in the season-finale that same season.
Although the 1950 haul had a relatively low percentage of players who were regulars (about 25 to 30 percent), almost all of them were stalwarts.
Augmenting this class in its success was a 1951 recruiting class the year after that was deeper, another reason we didn’t quite slip them into the top 10. Even after this class graduated at the end of the ‘53 season, Notre Dame was still 9-1 the next season without them under new head coach Terry Brennan.
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