Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com JANUARY 2018 13 UNDER THE DOME For the first time in 70 years, Notre Dame placed two offensive linemen — fifth-year senior left tackle Mike McGlinchey and senior left guard Quenton Nelson — on the Walter Camp Foundation All-America first-team unit. The nation's oldest All-America team (128 years) had the duo as the first set of Irish offensive linemen on the first team since tackle George Connor and guard Bill Fischer achieved the feat for the 1947 national champs. Connor was the first recipient of the Outland Trophy in 1946, while Fischer won it in 1948. Nelson was one of three finalists for that award this season, which was won by Houston defensive tackle Ed Oliver. The Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, SI.com and Pro Football Focus also tabbed McGlinchey and Nelson as first-team All-Americans. PFF grades every play in every game, and it ranked Nelson as the top of- fensive lineman in the country with a 48.1 score, with the next highest-rated lineman at 44.9. No other guard scored higher than 39.0. He also was the highest rated guard at run blocking with a 33.0 score, while the next highest rated guard in that category was at 25.5. This season, Nelson did not surrender a sack or quarterback hit, and permit- ted only two hurries. As a three-year starter, he surrendered merely two sacks (none the last year) and two QB hits during his career. Meanwhile, PFF had third-year starter McGlinchey (43.3) as the third high- est rated offensive lineman and second highest rated tackle in the country. McGlinchey's 34.1 run blocking rating was No. 1 in the country — with Nelson No. 2 at 33.0. The next best tackle to McGlinchey was at 25.2. In pass blocking, McGlinchey allowed three sacks, two QB hits and nine QB hurries. The lone offensive tackle ranked ahead of him was Washington State's Cole Madison. The two stalwarts spearheaded a line that paved the way for an offense that ranked third in the Football Bowl Subdivision in yards per carry (6.37), seventh in rushing yards per game (279.1) and 12th in rushing touchdowns (35). Irish Offensive Line Duo Named Consensus All-Americans Senior Quenton Nelson (56) and fifth-year senior Mike McGlinchey (68) became the first pair of Irish offensive linemen to earn first-team All-America accolades from the Walter Camp Foundation in the same season in 70 years. PHOTO BY ANGELA DRISKELL Holy Cross Village is a continuing care retirement community, sponsored by the Brothers of Holy Cross, with a tradition of caring, compassion and trust. Holy Cross Village welcomes people of all faiths. 54515 State Rd., 933 North, Notre Dame, IN 46556 www.holycrossvillage.com ... AND ENJOY THE GAME OF LIFE AT HOLY CROSS VILLAGE I magine making new friends and developing new talents, where everything you need to enjoy the game of life is right outside your front door. Nestled among three institutions of higher learning, Holy Cross Village at Notre Dame is a senior living community unlike anything else around. Our warm and inviting community offers: Independent Living Homes and Apartments Assisted Living Apartments Skilled Nursing Memory Care Rehabilitation Services Call (574) 251-2235 today for more information and to schedule a tour. JULIAN LOVE FETED BY SI.COM In addition to Notre Dame's offensive line duo, SI.com, the digital version of Sports Illustrated, placed Fighting Irish sophomore cornerback Julian Love on its 2017 second-team All-America unit, with Iowa's Josh Jackson and Auburn's Carlton Davis on the first team. Only Jackson had more passes defended this season (25) than Love (20), who set a single-season school record in passes broken up with 17. Love's three interceptions also were game changers. The first was re- turned for a 59-yard touchdown to up Notre Dame's lead to 14-0 in a win at Michigan State, and the second was a 69-yard return for a score that increased the Irish lead to 28-14 versus North Carolina State. The next week he nearly scored again on a pick that he returned to Wake Forest's 5-yard line that helped the Irish expand their lead to 17-3.