Notre Dame Offensive Line Ranked 5th Best In College Football
Notre Dame saw its offensive line get back on track last season, and the Irish are projected to e even better in 2023. Lindy's Sports is one of the believers in the Notre Dame blockers, and the outlet ranked the Irish as the fifth best returning offensive line in all of college football in its preview magazine.
"The Irish have college football's premier pair of tackles in Joe Alt and Blake Fisher. Center Zeke Correll is the lynchpin, and freshman Billy Schrauth is the young guy they're raving about in South Bend." - Lindy's Sports
Junior left tackle Joe Alt is ranked as the nation's best returning tackle according to Lindy's, and he's a preseason first team All-American in their preview magazine as well. Both Alt and classmate Blake Fisher were ranked in the top five of the 2024 NFL Draft rankings at offensive tackle in the Lindy's preview.
Fisher isn't getting the same kind of preseason All-American love, and he wasn't ranked as one of the eight best returning tackles, but there is some respect for him as part of a talented tandem along with Alt.
Fifth-year senior Zeke Correll did find himself ranked by Lindy's among the nation's best returning centers. Correll was ranked as Lindy's eighth best returning center in all of college football heading into the 2023 season.
That trio was part of what was a strong offensive line in 2023. Although the Irish blockers got off to a rough start in September, by the time October rolled out the unit was playing at a very high level.
If Notre Dame is going to build on that success and find more consistency, something it will need to do if it wants to be a top five offensive line, the guard play will be the key. Lindy's is correct that sophomore Billy Schrauth is getting a lot of attention inside and outside of the Notre Dame program, and he has the talent to make an early impact. Consistency for a young lineman will be key, and that will determine how good Schrauth will be this season.
The other guard position remains a question mark in many ways. We don't yet know who the starter will be, with fifth-year senior Andrew Kristofic and junior Rocco Spindler are just two of the players battling it out for the right guard position. Schrauth emerging and the other guard position getting settled will be key for success in 2023.
Notre Dame also has quality depth returning in 2023 with veteran Tosh Baker continuing to improve and with young blockers like Aamil Wagner and Ashton Craig emerging.
Of course, how quickly the unit adapts to the coaching of first-year coach Joe Rudolph, and how quickly he learns to push the right buttons, will also play a major role in the success of the 2023 line.
None of Notre Dame's 2023 opponents were ranked in the Top 10 list for the offensive line units. USC did have a pair of player's ranked among the top returners. Center Justin Dedich ranked fourth at his position and Jonah Monheim ranked as the eighth best tackle.
Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson ranks as the sixth best returning guard and Duke tackle Graham Barton ranked fourth best at his position.
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