Rocco Spindler Took A Bumpy Road To Win A Starting Role For Notre Dame
The time has finally arrived for former top recruit Rocco Spindler. After two seasons spent mostly standing on the sideline, the junior Notre Dame offensive lineman will make his much anticipated debut at right guard this Saturday when the Fighting Irish open their season in Ireland against Navy.
Now under his third position coach in as many seasons, Spindler fought his way to the top of the depth chart through the spring and during fall camp under first-year Irish offensive line coach Joe Rudolph.
"He brought different things that I didn’t think of when other previous coaches (were here),” Spindler said of Rudolph this week. "He showed new techniques, new ways of blocking. I’m sure it really helped a lot, I’m thankful for that. Honestly, it’s just competition. Here at Notre Dame, it’s the highest competition you can get, either in games or in the classrooms. I’m just blessed to be a part of it.”
Spindler battled with fifth-year senior Andrew Kristofic for the job during the spring. Kristofic has eight career starts and was considered the front runner heading into fall camp. It was a literal up and down practice time for Spindler. He found himself knocked to the ground more times than he would care to count.
"I think it could have been a mix of everything,” Spindler explained. "Could have been (too) aggressive, footwork, weight. It could have been all factors. But it could have just been knowledge of how we should block and how we should take our steps in this matter as well as helping the guys next to me. I can help (center) Zeke (Correll) here, also on the same play I can help (right tackle) Blake (Fisher). Everything factors in. It’s really just simplifying what you have to do on that play.”
Spindler started to find his footing as the spring wore on but still went into summer workouts as the No. 2 right guard behind Kristofic. The depth chart was far from final, though and Spindler set his sites on earning the starting job during fall camp after a post-spring meeting with head coach Marcus Freeman and Rudolph.
"We had a plan after spring ball, exit meetings, and they said the two guard spots are open,” Spindler explained. "How are you going to put a plan together to go win it? It was a team effort. It wasn’t specifically me. It was things I needed to work on, things I needed to do, but how they’re going to help me get to where I want to be.
“Like Coach Freeman says, 'It’s the bumpy road',” Spindler continued. "There’s going to be challenges along the way, not only in football but in life. At Notre Dame here, we have to choose hard. There could have been one play I messed up on, it’s next play. (I) can’t let frustration carry myself the last few years, I wouldn’t say that. It’s really one play, one life. Choosing hard and finding a way to get better and helping the guys next to me get better.”
The combination of Spindler’s high recruiting ranking out of Clarkston, Mich and his work during the spring of his freshman year made him a fan favorite to quickly earn a starting job. He saw extensive work at left guard in the spring of 2021 and it looked like he could be a freshman starter like Fisher and later Joe Alt. That didn’t materialize, but Spindler appreciates the fans who longed to see him on Saturdays for the last two years.
"I appreciate that,” said Spindler. "After two or three O-line coaches now, I try to not read or listen to quote-unquote what we call the poison or outside voices. It’s really just focusing on what my plan was that day and executing at the highest possibility of what I need to get done, not only for me but for my teammates and how to help the guys next to me and especially the guys behind me.”
Spindler’s ascension to the top of the right guard depth chart means four of the five starters, along with Joe Alt, Fisher and left guard Pat Coogan, are from the 2021 recruiting class. The self-described “mama’s boy” says he didn’t call his dad after he got the nod to start. He called mom instead to give her the news.
"My parents are pumped,” Spindler remarked. "My mom was in tears. It’s a great feeling. Now I have to do my part and play at a high level.”
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