Blue and Gold Illustrated

December 2017

Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football

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4 DECEMBER 2017 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED N otre Dame head coach Brian Kelly is already pulling out all the stops — and even some spots — to try to find something, anything, to lure back his best and certainly most fierce player for one more season in 2018. Bruising left offensive guard Quen- ton Nelson — often referred to as a garage door with arms and a smirk — is a senior on the Irish roster, but he's eligible for a fifth season if he chooses to delay his NFL aspirations and return to Notre Dame to play next year as a graduate student. "I offered my parking spot to Quen- ton Nelson to try to get him to come back," said Kelly, probably only par- tially joking. "He didn't bite on that." At least Nelson hasn't yet. As unlikely as it seems for a young man to return to school with a busi- ness degree in hand and a first-round NFL Draft projection waiting, don't dismiss the possibility. Notre Dame offensive line coach Harry Hiestand is considered one of the best in the business at any level, and he's found a way to lure some of his most polished players back for a fourth and even a fifth year. NFL standouts Zack Martin, Nick Martin, Ronnie Stanley and Chris Watt are a few on that list. Expectedly, Nelson won't even flirt with answering any stay-or-go inquiries. "I can't worry about any of it right now," deadpanned Nelson, not bit- ing on that either. See, Nelson doesn't care much for self-endorsement, grandstanding or sharing many details about what has made him arguably the best offensive lineman in the country this year, or where he sees himself in a few months when NFL Draft workouts begin. Instead of talking about any per- sonal achievements and what his future might hold, Nelson has only one goal in mind: Doing all that is necessary to win the bowl game and properly cap this turnaround season. This is how Nelson is wired. He's not much on offering small talk or personal details, but instead is a loyal teammate and a relentless leader through both actions and words. He's often called "brutally honest" because of his blunt critiques of the performance and effort around him. "Quenton is just as good as they get in terms of his preparation," said fifth-year senior left tackle Mike McGlinchey, the most recent Notre Dame all-American to return for a fifth season under Coach Hiestand. "And he makes sure that everybody else is coming along with him." And at a chiseled 6-5 and 330 pounds with no tangible body fat, the strength of a bull and an unmatched work ethic, who isn't going to listen? As a 295-pound senior in 2014 out of Red Bank High School in Holmdel, N.J., Nelson performed 26 reps on the bench press at 225 pounds. His mark fell only three shy of the 29 put up that same year at the NFL Draft Combine by Irish invitees Watt and Zack Martin. Nelson has become so dominating this season, he's emerged as one of the front-runners to win the Outland Trophy Award (which is given to the nation's best interior lineman). A top-10 pick, NFL fame and for- tune, Outland Trophy hopeful, all of that sounds intriguing, right? "I don't pay attention to any of it," Nelson reiterated, putting an abrupt end to that line of questioning. That Nelson even returned in 2017 for a fourth season surprised some. But one reason weighed too heavily for him not to come back — a vow from Coach Kelly that an offseason program overhaul was coming. "I trusted in Coach Kelly, and he definitely made good on all of the changes he promised," said Nel- son, who was named a team captain last December to help lead the mis- sion. "It resulted in a culture change throughout the entire team, and it's been awesome to be part of this." Those changes were highlighted by a more rigorous offseason workout schedule and a greater emphasis on strength and conditioning training — perfect additions for a gym rat such as Nelson and a couple more reasons he has become one of the best linemen ever to move through Notre Dame, even if his next college game becomes his last one. "It's been very special," he said. "Notre Dame has challenged me in the classroom and on the field, and it has made me into a better person and the person that I am today. I am very thankful to Notre Dame." Notre Dame is equally thankful, especially the brutal honesty. ✦ Part Of Something 'Special' UPON FURTHER REVIEW TODD D. BURLAGE Todd D. Burlage has been a writer for Blue & Gold Illustrated since July 2005. He can be reached at tburlage@blueandgold.com Senior left guard Quenton Nelson has arguably been the best offensive lineman in the country this year. PHOTO BY ANGELA DRISKELL

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