CBSSports.com Independents All-Decade Team
CBSSports.com staff
Below is a list of the CBSSports.com Independents All-Decade team, which was voted on by the writers and staff at CBSSports.com.
It's no surprise that Notre Dame is well-represented on this list with 19 players, including CBSSports.com Independent offensive player of the decade Brady Quinn.
| Pos. | Player |
| QB | Brady Quinn, Notre Dame |
| RB | Darius Walker, Notre Dame |
| RB | Kyle Eckel, Navy |
| WR | Jeff Samardzija, Notre Dame |
| WR | Rhema McKnight, Notre Dame |
| TE | Anthony Fasano, Notre Dame |
| OL | Ryan Harris, Notre Dame |
| OL | John Sullivan, Notre Dame |
| OL | Jeff Faine, Notre Dame |
| OL | James Rossi, Navy |
| OL | Joel Glover, Army |
| DL | Justin Tuck, Notre Dame |
| DL | Victor Abiamiri, Notre Dame |
| DL | Trevor Laws, Notre Dame |
| DL | Cameron Craig, Army |
| LB | Brandon Hoyte, Notre Dame |
| LB | Mike Gooslby, Notre Dame |
| LB | David Mahoney, Navy |
| DB | Tom Zbikowski, Notre Dame |
| DB | Vontez Duff, Notre Dame |
| DB | Shane Walton, Notre Dame |
| DB | Caleb Campbell, Army |
| K | Nicholas Setta, Notre Dame |
| P | D.J. Fitzpatrick, Notre Dame |
| Ret | Julius Jones, Notre Dame |
During four seasons with the Fighting Irish, Quinn broke 36 school records, including 11,742 career yards and 95 career touchdown passes. Quinn also ranks in the top 10 in NCAA history in career attempts, yards and touchdown passes.
As a junior in 2005, Quinn finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy voting, throwing 32 touchdowns. He also earned third-team All-American honors, while being named a finalist for the O'Brien Trophy.
His senior season, he finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting, throwing 37 touchdowns with only seven interceptions. He won the Unitas Award and Maxwell Award, while earning second-team All-American honors.
Quinn's favorite target Jeff Samardzija also made the team. He had two great seasons, catching 77 passes for 1,215 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2005 and then 78 catches for 1,017 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2006.
Navy placed three players on the list, including Kyle Eckel. He was one of the best fullbacks in the nation, compiling 2,906 rushing yards and 25 touchdowns. As a junior, Eckel rushed for 1,249 yards and 10 touchdowns. He followed up that great season with 1,147 yards and 11 touchdown season as a senior.
On defense, Notre Dame had eight players on the all-decade team, including defensive player of the decade Justin Tuck.
Tuck holds the school record with 24.5 career sacks and 43 tackles for a loss. His best season came in 2003 when he set a school record with 13.5 sacks with 19 tackles for a loss.
Army placed two players on defense -- defensive lineman Cameron Craig and defensive back Caleb Campbell. Craig holds the school record in career sacks with 13.5 and tied for second in school history with 35 tackles for a loss. Campbell ranks ninth in career tackles with 307, leading the team in 2005 with 97. He also led the team with five interceptions.
