There were a lot of things that didn't go right in the first half of Notre Dame's 2022 season. Few position groups performed further below expectations than Notre Dame's offensive line. It was one thing to see the Irish struggle to run the ball against an Ohio State team that would eventually reach the College Football Playoff. But to see the Irish held to 3.5 yards per carry by Marshall the next week raised immediate red flags about the state of Notre Dame's offensive line.
Eventually, the Irish answered those questions. By season's end, an Irish program known for its O-line prowess was back to handling opposing front sevens. Few Irish fans will forget how the unit flexed its muscles, literally and figuratively, in Notre Dame's 35-14 destruction of then-No. 4 Clemson. After Notre Dame rushed for just 130 yards as a team against the Thundering Herd, sophomore running back Logan Diggs nearly topped that figure alone. The Irish galloped for 263 yards on an average of 5.6 per carry while also protecting quarterback Drew Pyne well.
That the Irish finished with respectable rankings in stats most associated with offensive line play such as rushing yards (35th) and sacks allowed (39th) given their dismal play at the start of the year speaks to how much they turned things around. Of course, one of the biggest reasons for Notre Dame's O-line resurgence was All-American graduate student Jarrett Patterson, who was notably absent for the opener at Ohio State due to a right foot sprain. Patterson finished his Irish career with all kinds of accolades. Perhaps most impressively, he did not allow a single sack in nearly 1,700 pass block snaps. The Irish will certainly miss his dominance at left guard.
For as good as Patterson was, the guy to his left might have been even better. According to Pro Football Focus, sophomore Joe Alt graded out as college football's top tackle in 2022. It's been a meteoric rise for Alt. He's gone from three-star recruit (according to Rivals) to starter in 2021 to downright elite last season. Alt could be the latest in a long line of Irish offensive line greats.
They'll need him to be every bit as good in 2023 with Patterson and Notre Dame's other starting guard, graduate student Josh Lugg, set to depart. The Irish will have senior center Zeke Correll back and sophomore Blake Fisher will look to build on his breakout 2022 season at right tackle.
Notre Dame adds five new O-linemen to the program for 2023, all from their recruiting class. That quintet includes Notre Dame's highest rated recruit (according to 247 Sports) in tackle Charles Jagusah. Jagusah is a four-star recruit, as are tackle Sullivan Absher, who comes to South Bend from South Point High School in Belmont, NC, and interior linemen Sam Pendleton (also from North Carolina) and Joe Otting. Three-star interior lineman Christopher Terek rounds out the class.
It's possible that some of that group sees playing time in 2023, but it would be a major surprise if any of them take over Patterson or Lugg's starting spots. After all, the Irish also brought in several four-star linemen in last year's recruiting class, including tackles Aamil Wagner and Billy Schrauth. More experienced options like junior Andrew Kristofic and sophomore Rocco Spindler could see increased roles as well. There will definitely be some things for offensive line coach Harry Hiestand to sort out in the second year of his second stint in South Bend. But given the strong foundation bookended by Alt and Fisher at tackle, Notre Dame's O-line should be rock-solid once again. Hopefully from day one this time around.
2023 Projected Depth Chart
LT: Joe Alt, Tosh Baker
LG: Billy Schrauth, Rocco Spindler
C: Zeke Correll, Pat Coogan
RG: Andrew Kristofic, Aamil Wagner
RT: Blake Fisher, Michael Carmody
Contact Andrew McGuinness at amcguinn@nd.edu.
