Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1541365
52 NOV. 22, 2025 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED BY TODD D. BURLAGE D uring this latest NFL offseason the league announced a long overdue initiative to honor the best offensive lineman each season with the Protector of the Year Award. Former Irish All-American and Colts perennial All-Pro Quenton Nelson is probably the leading candidate to take the inaugural trophy with the work he's doing leading the best offense in the league so far this season. As a team through Week 10, the 8-2 Colts led the NFL in total yards per game (396.9). Indy was third in rush- ing yards (145.3) and fourth in passing yards (251.5). The Colts' offense has been so good, quarterback Daniel Jones led the NFL with 2,659 passing yards with 15 touch- downs and 7 interceptions. In addition, star tailback Jonathan Taylor was lead- ing the league with 1,139 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns after he posted a season-high 244 yards with 3 touch- downs in a 31-25 overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons Nov. 9. As a player, Nelson was ranked by Pro Football Focus as the top guard in the NFL with an 87.6 overall grade and was first in run blocking with a 90.4 grade, but was perplexingly ranked only 22nd in pass blocking — a questionable rating for a blocker who had allowed no sacks and only 2 quarterback hits this season, and committed just 1 penalty. As a teammate and Colts captain, Nelson, 29, has earned a reputation as a tireless worker, a student of the game, and a natural leader. "Since Day 1, Q has really been a cul- ture setter," said teammate and fellow lineman Braden Smith, who was also drafted by the Colts in 2018, one round after Nelson. "He just brings it every day, he really has a positive attitude, just a great guy to be around, a great teammate." A no-nonsense model of consistency be it football and life, about the only things that have changed for Nelson are the beard on his face, the "C" on his chest that he earned for the first time in 2021, and the quarterbacks he's block- ing for. When Jones was named the open- ing-day starter for the Colts, the for- mer Duke star became the 12th differ- ent starting quarterback Nelson has blocked for since the latter became a rookie starter in 2018. "I'd be lying if I said it wasn't frus- trating," shared Nelson, obviously un- aware of the immediate impact Jones would make on the franchise. "You look around the league and see just the con- sistency of having Patrick Mahomes or a quarterback behind you that's been the franchise player for years and years and years, and getting to build that chem- istry with that quarterback year after year means something when it comes to O-line play." And while Nelson's quarterbacks and facial hair may have changed, the hard- working Holmdel, N.J., native remains the same steady teammate now that he was at Notre Dame from 2014-17, where he became a unanimous All-American at Notre Dame in 2017. "It's really important to support your teammates and have their backs," added Nelson, who in his first seven NFL sea- sons already has five All-Pro selections, the most ever for a Colts offensive guard. "It's something I pride myself on doing my whole career." ✦ FIGHTING IRISH HEADLINERS Thomas Harper, (Played at Notre Dame in 2023), S, Detroit Lions, NFL Starting his third consecutive game for the Lions, the 2024 undrafted free agent made a career-high 6 tackles in a 44-22 win over the Washington Commanders Nov. 9. The Knoxville, Tenn., native has shined since becoming a first-stringer, recording 11 tackles and 1 pass defended in those three games. As a backup for the Las Vegas Raiders last season, Harper recorded 26 tackles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 interception and 2 passes broken up. Cam Hart (2019-23), CB, Los Angeles Chargers, NFL His 2 tackles didn't necessarily jump off of the stat sheet, but his solid work in pass defense stood out in the Chargers' 25-10 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers Nov. 9. Making his second consecutive start, the Baltimore native broke up a pass in the fourth quarter from Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on a fourth-and-6 that ended the Pittsburgh drive and helped protect a two-score lead. Hart allowed only 1 reception for 11 yards on 3 targets in the win. Xavier Watts (2020-24), S, Atlanta Falcons, NFL The 2025 fifth-round draft pick recorded a career-high 11 tackles in a 31-25 over- time loss to the Indianapolis Colts Nov. 9. While on pass defense, the Minneapolis native was not targeted. With 28 tackles in his last four games, the standout rookie had risen to second on the team with 56 total tackles through nine games. Watts was also tied for first on the team with 2 interceptions and tied for third on the Falcons with 4 passes defended. Unflappable Team Captain Quenton Nelson Is Leading The Colts To New Heights I R I S H I N T H E P R O S Nelson, who earned five All-Pro selections in his first seven NFL seasons, is a leading candidate for the league's inaugural Protector of the Year Award (the NFL's best offensive lineman). PHOTO COURTESY INDIANAPOLIS COLTS