Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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stumbled upon a player with some good potential when Mike Mc- Glinchey showed up on the Phila- delphia campus as a 6-2 freshman with good feet. He didn't get a full picture of how special McGlinchey could become until the final game of his junior season last November. W illiam Penn Charter head coach Jeff Humble knew he had COMMITMENT PROFILE MIKE MCGLINCHEY pounds, stayed stride for stride with Penn Charter's fullback on a long touchdown run. McGlinchey, who became the fourth offensive lineman to commit to Notre Dame this spring, has always had a great blend of size and athletic ability. His touchdown escort captured it perfectly for Humble. "He hurdled a kid and was block- ing down field, and it just showed me, wow, that's a Division I kid right there," the coach said. "I think that was the most jaw-dropping moment for me." Humble said he expects Mc- McGlinchey, now 6-9 and 275 Pennsylvania Native Adds Athleticism And Size To Offensive Line Haul cal size to play tackle in the Irish spread attack. He's already rated by 247Sports as the seventh-best pros- pect in Pennsylvania and the 27th- best offensive tackle in the country. "The first thing that stands out about McGlinchey is his all-around athleticism for his size," 247Sports national recruiting director JC Shurburtt said. "I think guys that play multiple sports like Mike do tend to develop in football at a higher percentage because they aren't maxed out when they get to college. He's cer- tainly got upside." McGlinchey is also a basketball player, a sport he considered to be his strong suit before shifting from tight end to offensive tackle at Penn Charter. "I was a tight end going into high school, and I was actually more of a basketball player than I was a football player," he said. "I've al- ways been athletic. I guess my ath- leticism is a huge part of why I am successful." He doubts the Irish coaching staff Glinchey to put on another 15 pounds before he begins his senior season this fall. That would make the four-star prospect a prototypi- contact with his face and hands and drives the defender to the ground … Long and lean, which makes him an ideal fit at left tackle, and also athletic … Gets to the second level of the defense quickly and searches out other blocks after completing his assignment … Sound footwork allows him to own the edge on an outside zone scheme and combo blocks well with the guard. Strengths Gets off of the football low and hard, makes FILM ANALYSIS Areas To Improve Physical, but reaches at times instead of packing a full punch … Keeping his feet pump- ing on contact will allow him to dominate more blocks instead of holding ground … Af- ter making contact with the defender, adding more of an extension will be the difference maker in gaining full control and creating a seam for the ball carrier for a longer period of time. 40 MAY 2012 McGlinchey, a 6-9, 275-pounder from Phila- delphia, is rated by 247Sports as a four-star prospect and the No. 27 offensive tackle in the nation. PHOTO COURTESY 247SPORTS is interested in seeing if he can still cut it at tight end, but he's willing to do whatever he's asked as long as it's in a blue-and-gold uniform. McGlinchey said he is a lifelong Notre Dame fan. He elected to keep that under his cap before he saw what the program had to offer first- had three linemen signed on to play in his class and would only have enough scholarships for one or two more, so he wanted to act fast. "I didn't want the opportunity to go away at Notre Dame," he said. "I knew that this was the place that I wanted to go. I didn't want in the time that I took to say yes to have that window close for me and not be able to go there." "I DIDN'T WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO GO AWAY AT NOTRE DAME. I KNEW THAT THIS WAS THE PLACE THAT I WANTED TO GO." MCGLINCHEY hand and announced his decision. McGlinchey visited Notre Dame during the school's junior day March 24 and gave his pledge shortly after leaving campus the following day. He and his father had planned on touring Wiscon- sin's campus that afternoon, but didn't get across the Indiana border before he decided it wasn't worth the drive. McGlinchey called home to his — Jason Sapp mother to make sure she was on board with his choice and then let the Irish staff know he planned on taking them up on their offer. He said he knew Notre Dame already weight lifted off McGlinchey's big shoulders when he got the recruit- ing process out of the way. Now, the newly minted Penn Charter captain can spend his senior year focusing on keeping his no-sacks- allowed streak alive. McGlinchey said he'd have to reach back well into his sophomore year to remem- ber the last time his opponent got past him, which is a point of pride for him each time he takes the field. "He's got a chip on his shoulder," Humble said he could see a Humble said. "He really has that little bit of anger, which is really good." ✦ BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED