Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1165986
16 SEPT. 23, 2019 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY TODD D. BURLAGE A s his own harshest critic, Notre Dame senior Liam Eichenberg will never be satisfied dur- ing his journey to become an All-American offensive tackle this season, and eventually a first-round NFL Draft pick in 2020 or 2021. A missed assignment on this play, hands not far enough apart on an- other, too slow off the ball on this one — Eichenberg's obsession with per- fection during self-evaluation brings a heavy burden. "When you get to this level, it's all about the little things, where your feet are, how big of a step you take, where your hands are," Eichenberg said, providing a glimpse into his ad- diction to detail. "If your hands are three inches wide you can get blown back into the quarterback. "You have to always focus on the little things." Eichenberg's passion for perfection dates back to his high school days at football powerhouse Saint Ignatius in Cleveland, where as a senior in 2015 he became a first-team MaxPreps All- American and a participant in the Under Armour All-American Game. But Eichenberg's mission to truly excel manifested itself in 2017 during his sophomore season at Notre Dame when he failed to land the starting right tackle spot he was expected to secure. That setback to be a starter at right tackle sent Eichenberg to left tackle as a backup to Mike McGlinchey, a consen- sus All-American at the position and a future first-round NFL Draft pick. Buried on the depth chart and fac- ing no chance of taking McGlinchey's starting spot, Eichenberg was rele- gated to meaningless mop-up duty during lopsided Irish wins, an anon- ymous role that ripped at him all season. "I knew I didn't put enough time into it," Eichenberg said in hindsight. "That's how life is. If you don't put the work in, you don't see the reward." Almost immediately after his disap- pointing 2017 season ended, Eichen- berg jotted down four motivational priorities to focus on during the months leading up to the 2018 season. Improve. Technique. Win a starting spot. For my family. "I look at them before I go to bed every night," he said. With his mission clear, Eichenberg better committed to his offseason work as a junior in 2018 and reaped the rewards, securing the starting left tackle spot, a vital position along the line responsible for protecting a quarterback's blind side. "I put everything I could into train- ing for it," Eichenberg said. "It was that point where you're either going to play or you're not going to get that starting job." BAPTISM BY FIRE Starting spot secured, the next chapter for Eichenberg was surviving matchups against opponents who featured some of the best defensive linemen in the country last season. In his first career start against Michigan in the 2018 season opener, Eichenberg was pitted against stand- out defensive ends Rashan Gary, who eventually became the No. 12 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, and Chase Winovich, a third-round selection. Eichenberg admitted to being somewhat overwhelmed in the game and his turbulent performance showed it. "I always hate watching that game, because I had no experience," he said. "Just looking back throughout the clips, I'm like, 'What the heck was I doing?'" Eichenberg's baptism by fire could've set a tone for the season, but through it all he kept his confidence, knowing that if he let himself down he was also letting his teammates down. "I had guys in my offensive linemen CRITICAL DEVELOPMENT Regret and hard work are driving senior left tackle Liam Eichenberg Eichenberg's quest for perfection at left tackle includes relentless self-evaluation on the field and in the film room. The senior is already an All- America candidate with one more year of eligibil- ity remaining in 2020. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA