Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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younger brother, junior Nick Martin, from tackle to center for the first time in his career. Center also received a boost when fellow junior Matt Hegarty, who underwent a procedure on his heart last December that jeopardized his football future, was cleared for practice and provided quality depth at center. The next step was to set right the right side, which graduated guard Mike Golic Jr. but returned 13-game starter Christian Lombard at right tackle. "He finished last year off really well," Zack Martin said of the senior, a former USA Today first-team All-American. "We're expecting big things from him, and whoever is playing next to him I through the early weeks of August camp, Lombard moved inside to right guard and Stanley was positioned at right tackle. Lombard had taken reps at guard each of the past two seasons, and his body type fits the position. At 6‑5, 315 pounds, he provides a bigger frame than the overachieving 6‑3, 300-pound Golic did last year. "He's not overly long that he can't get in there and play the guard position," Kelly said of Lombard. "He's not built that he's just a tackle. He's thick-trunked, he can get in there, he can move people, and he's got good enough feet that he can play on the edge if required like he did last year. Just his body type allows us a little more flexibility." "He's always made it important that the offensive line is going to be the closest group and the hardest working group on the field on the team." Fifth-year senior Zack Martin on offensive line coach Harry Hiestand know he's going to help him out." During the spring, junior Conor Hanratty took the reps at No. 1 right guard, but waiting in the wings was sophomore tackle Ronnie Stanley, who was recovering from elbow surgery the previous fall. The staff was intrigued by Stanley's combination of size (6‑5½, 318) with exceptional footwork, a product of originally being a Division I prospect in college basketball while playing at powerhouse Bishop Gorman in Las Vegas. When Watt was out of commission for the spring game, Stanley shifted to the No. 1 left guard spot despite having never played there. Thus, when neck strains sidelined It would be premature to say that Stanley has the right tackle spot nailed down, but he fits the profile of everything the staff wants in a tackle, and then some. "The game comes to him pretty easy," Kelly said. "He doesn't fight it — and he's massive. He has size, he's strong, he's physical and he moves his feet well. He's got skill and long arms. He has all those intangible traits and real traits of an offensive tackle that you're looking for … and he's a tough kid." Although the move of Lombard breaks up some continuity he had at tackle, flexibility is common along premier lines. Alabama's Barrett Jones started at guard, center or tackle for