Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1220706
www.BLUEANDGOLD.com APRIL 2020 29 OFFENSIVE LINEMEN 2020 SPRING FOOTBALL PREVIEW BY THE NUMBERS 15 Scholarship offensive linemen on the spring roster, including former walk-on center/guard Colin Grunhard, and now sophomore Hunter Spears, who moved from defense. Spears is working at left guard, where seniors Aaron Banks and Dillan Gibbons are out with injuries. 46.2 Percent converted on third down last year when Notre Dame faced three yards or less to go (24 of 52): • 21 of 32 on third-and-one for 65.6 per- cent. • 2 of 10 on third-and-two for 20 percent. • 1 of 10 on third-and-three for 10 per- cent. 114 Career starts among the return- ing offensive linemen, the most we have found at Notre Dame since 1964, when college football fully adopted a two- platoon system (players not playing both ways on offense and defense). WHO'S GONE Trevor Ruhland Gritty utility guard/center replaced the injured Tommy Kraemer during the final six games in 2020. WHO'S BACK Fifth-year senior Liam Eichenberg The left tackle is lone player on the 2020 roster to start every game in 2018 and 2019, and already is projected as a potential first-round NFL pick. Fifth-year senior Tommy Kraemer The right guard matches the 26 ca- reer starts of classmate Eichenberg, with nine in 2017, 10 in 2018 and seven last year. Senior Robert Hainsey A 2019 captain as a junior right tackle, he is bouncing back from an ankle injury that side- lined him the final six contests last season. Senior Aaron Banks The left guard has 19 consecutive starts, but will sit out this spring while recovering from surgery on a fractured foot. Junior Jarrett Patterson Successfully transitioned from left tackle to center after redshirting as a 2018 freshman, and started all 13 games in 2019. Senior Josh Lugg Versatile figure started in place of the injured Hain- sey basically the last six games in 2019 and is the top left guard this spring in place of the shelved Banks. OFFENSIVE LINE COACH Jeff Quinn — 3rd year Worked with head coach Brian Kelly for 21 consecutive years from 1989-2009 before Kelly was named head coach at Notre Dame and Quinn for the Buffalo Bulls. The two were reunited in 2015 when Quinn was named offen- sive analyst for the Irish, and then promoted to of- fensive line coach after 2012-17 Irish assistant Harry Hiestand moved to the NFL. BGI Football Analyst Vince DeDario's Take "The offensive line is a bit of a MASH unit this spring, with three starters off to the side participating in injury exer- cises. This could be a positive because it is an opportunity for some of the younger linemen to get some time with the first or second unit." POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH With senior left guard Aaron Banks sidelined this spring after foot surgery and probably not at an ideal 335 pounds, classmate Josh Lugg — the Swiss Army knife of the line who can play anywhere — could find himself in maybe a co-starting role much like Robert Hainsey and Tommy Kraemer did at right tackle in 2017. Hainsey suffered a season-ending ankle injury on the opening possession last year versus Virginia Tech Nov. 2, and the 6-7, 308-pound Lugg took his place during that six-game winning streak to end the season. It might be a long time, if ever, Notre Dame will have as much start- ing experience returning along an of- fensive line as it does in 2020. Not only are the 114 career starts the most, per our research, but it is the first time since Charlie Weis' debut season as Fighting Irish head coach in 2005 that Notre Dame has returned all five starters. Technically, senior right guard Tommy Kraemer (knee) and senior right tackle Robert Hainsey (ankle) were sidelined all of last November and the bowl game because of inju- ries, but Kraemer 's 26 career starts are tied for the most on the team and Hainsey was a 2019 captain. With so many veterans across the board, plus a "sixth man" in senior Josh Lugg who can line up anywhere, asserting dominance up front will be vital, particularly with the top run- ning back, receivers and tight end from 2019 gone and those positions somewhat in a state of flux. Also encouraging is sophomore right tackle Quinn Carroll, who ar- rived with the highest ranking among the offensive line underclassmen (No. 68 overall prospect nationally in 2019, per Rivals) is getting some work after suffering a torn ACL last August, while classmates Zeke Cor- rell at center and Andrew Kristofic at left tackle are more physically ready to compete after adding 20 and 12 pounds to bulk up to 290 and 292 pounds, respectively. Notre Dame was ranked No. 2 by Pro Football Focus in its pass protec- tion efficiency in 2019, but also es- tablishing a more potent, standard ground game will be vital. LIAM EICHENBERG PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA