Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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70 MARCH 2026 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED 2026 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY KYLE KELLY D uring his coaching career, Notre Dame offensive line coach Joe Rudolph has established himself as something of a non- conformist. That was most evident just seve n m o n t h s i n to A n t h o n i e Knapp's college career, when Rudolph named the 6-foot-4, 3 0 0 - p o u n d e r t h e p ro g ra m 's starting left tackle as a true freshman. Though to a much lesser de- gree, Rudolph's individualistic views will also help shape the early trajectory of 2026 four-star offensive line recruit Gregory Pat- rick's career when he arrives on campus in June. D e s p i te R iva l s l i s t i n g t h e 6-foot-5, 275-pound Patrick as the No. 16 interior offensive line- man and the No. 213 overall player na- tionally in his class, the Portage (Mich.) Northern product will begin his career at offensive tackle. Like Knapp, the move goes against the grain of how recruiting analysts projected him. According to Patrick, also Rivals' No. 5 player in Michigan, Rudolph's decision to start him on the outside is rooted in his footwork, bal- ance and strength. "When you play O-line, you have to generate power in awkward positions in a very short distance," Patrick told Blue & Gold Illustrated. "Coach Rudolph talks a lot about power ankles, and he says I could play really well in those situations. That's how he describes my game and how it can translate to tackle." Another key component of Pat- rick's profile is his 34-inch arm length, one of the common benchmarks NFL scouts value at offensive tackle. Still, Rudolph's initial stance does not mean Patrick is locked into that position for the duration of his career. Former Irish offensive lineman Zack Martin is a prime example. While Martin earned second-team All-America honors as Notre Dame's left tackle in 2012, the 6-foot-4, 308-pound lineman was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft to play guard. He went on to become one of the most decorated interior offensive linemen of all time over an 11-year NFL career. A similar path could eventually unfold for Knapp as well. Throughout Patrick's recruitment, Rudolph drew comparisons between him, Martin and Knapp. And while Pat- rick's recruiting ranking suggests he could develop into a similarly impactful offensive lineman, he is careful not to project too far ahead. That mindset, he says, reflects another one of Rudolph's guiding principles. "Coach Rudolph talks about how your goals have to match your actions," Patrick said. "They have to line up. You can't say, 'I want to play in the NFL,' but not do the things that are actually required to get there. I think about that pretty often — how I can get better ev- ery day and keep improving." ✦ Gregory Patrick's Role Starts Against The Grain GREGORY PATRICK OFFENSIVE LINEMAN 6-5 · 275 PORTAGE NORTHERN H.S. PORTAGE, MICH. RANKINGS STARS NAT. POS. STATE Industry ✪✪✪✪ 185 8 3 ✪✪✪✪ 213 16 5 ✪✪✪✪ 243 25 4 ✪✪✪✪ 250 26 3 STATISTICS • Was the leader of a Huskies' offensive line that helped their rushers record 2,171 yards and 24 touchdowns on 285 carries in 10 games during his junior year in 2024. Portage Northern lost in the first round of the Division 2 state playoffs. • Was also a key piece to the O-line as a sopho- more that powered through defenders to help the team total 1,474 yards and 26 touchdowns on 234 carries in 10 games. Portage Northern lost in the first round in 2023. NOTABLE • Made the Michigan Dream Team twice. • Recognized on the Michigan Division 2 all-state team in 2023, 2024 and 2025. • Honored on the Michigan Division 2, Region 2 team all four years of high school. • Was also All-Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference all four years. • Was a two-time team captain. • Voted senior class president. • His father, Joseph Patrick, played offensive line for Michigan State. RECRUITMENT • Committed to the Fighting Irish on April 13, 2025. • Will enroll at Notre Dame in June. • Picked the Irish over Michigan, Michigan State, Penn State and Wisconsin. • Recruited by offensive line coach Joe Rudolph. • Visited Notre Dame 12 times, including his official visit on June 13, 2025. 2026 PROJECTION • Patrick is expected to redshirt. THEY SAID IT Rivals director of scouting and rankings Charles Power: "He looks to have a well-rounded skill set on his junior film. He plays with very good lever- age, shows power, drives through his hips to up- root and get defensive linemen off balance. When you look at his physical makeup and size, he looks good at between 6-4 and 6-5 and 275 pounds. "He has positional versatility in that he could play on the interior or at tackle if needed. Long term, he has more of the body of an interior of- fensive lineman, but he has the movement skills and reactive quickness to potentially play tackle if needed at Notre Dame. He has quality hand place- ment, understands angles and has a noticeable wherewithal regarding how he plays. He doesn't find himself out of position often and doesn't have many discernible weaknesses. "He reminds me a little bit of [Notre Dame rising junior offensive tackle] Anthonie Knapp. That's a lofty comparison, though, because Knapp played against high-level competition in high school and was dominant as a senior." Patrick played left and right tackle during his senior sea- son at Portage (Mich.) Northern. PHOTO COURTESY RIVALS