Dan Santucci, an offensive guard from the University of Notre Dame, became the first second Saint Patrick High School alumnus selected in the National Football League Draft in the last two years on April 29. The Cincinnati Bengals chose Santucci in the seventh round with the 230th overall pick. Santucci joins former teammate Tim McGarigle in the NFL. McGarigle was drafted by the St. Louis Rams in the seventh round last year, and spent the season on the Rams’ practice squad. Santucci will compete for a spot on the offensive line and on special teams with the Bengals, beginning at a rookie mini-camp in and continuing with a full squad mini-camp in June in Ohio.

Santucci went to Notre Dame as a defensive lineman, but switched to the offensive line when Charlie Weis took over for Tyrone Willingham as head coach of the Fighting Irish in the spring of 2004. Santucci started the final 26 games of his career at left offensive guard for the Fighting Irish. Last year he helped lead the way for an offense that ranked among the national leaders with averages of 273.8 passing yards, 398.0 total yards and 32.4 points per game. Santucci was a key contributor as the Fighting Irish posted a record of 10-3, earning a berth in the Sugar Bowl last January.

Santucci's achievements aren't limited to the football field. Santucci received the Knute Rockne Student-Athlete Award from the Notre Dame Club of St. Joseph Valley. He finished with a 3.359 grade-point average after graduating as a Marketing major in the Mendoza College of Business. Santucci’s hometown of Harwood Heights honored Santucci at a ceremony on December 14, 2006. Harwood Heights Mayor, Margaret Fuller, called Santucci, "a person who exemplifies scholastic achievement, courage, dedication, and team effort."

As a Shamrock, Santucci was a two-way force, starring at both tight end and defensive end. As a senior, Santucci tallied 62 tackles, 24 tackles for loss, and six sacks defensively, while catching 13 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown offensively. That year, Santucci served as captain for a team that finished 7-4 and reached the second round of the IHSA State Playoffs for the first time in 13 years. Santucci was a two-time All-Conference honoree, and he was named Honorable Mention All-State by the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, and Champaign News-Gazette following his senior season.