SOUTH BEND, Ind. — How the world sees Joe Alt has changed dramatically as the 6-foot-8, 315-pound junior evolved from kind of a recruiting afterthought to Notre Dame’s best player and arguably the best left offensive tackle in all of college football.
His process hasn’t, though.
Improving is still foremost on his mind when he wakes up. Motivation comes easily, from within, and without gimmicks. And elevating his game is the same routine as always — film analysis, talking to teammates, listening to his O-line coach — now, Joe Rudolph — and putting in the extra work when nobody’s watching.
“Then translate it onto the field the next day,” he said Friday after Notre Dame football practice No. 10 of 15 this spring.
And, of course, bonding dinners with the other O-linemen Thursday nights at Mimmo’s Pizza in nearby Mishawaka.
“Love the garlic knots,” Alt said.
Yes, there’s an NIL deal in place for the entire offensive line corps with Mimmo’s. With Mission BBQ, too. And one in the works with Portillo’s.
“We’re working as a group to feed the offensive line, because we like to eat,” he said.
And what of Dude Wipes? One of the first NIL transactions with any ND player or position group?
“That was kind of a one-time thing,” Alt said. “We haven't reached back out to them, but I guess we could.”
As a likely first-round draft choice — whether he comes out in the spring of 2024, 2025 or 2026 — Alt is high profile enough to drive his own individual deals but not highly motivated to do so.
“I mean, I'm not super aggressive with it,” he said. “People approach me, for sure. And I have a couple of things working, but that's not really my main focus, definitely, especially in spring ball.
“I'm just kind of focused on school and getting better, each and every day, on the football field. So, yeah, there's definitely been some approaches, but that's not a main focus of mine.”
So what does Notre Dame’s No. 1 player focus on?
Here’s a sampling:
► On building O-line chemistry with rotating personnel at the two offensive guard spots, due to open competitions there:
“For us, it's just how can we help them be their best and help the offensive line be the best?” Alt said. “So, that's getting in the film room with everybody and making sure everyone understands it and then just working together and building the chemistry with whoever it may be.”
The left guard race has morphed from a senior Michael Carmody/Billy Schrauth battle to sophomores Schrauth vs. Pat Coogan. The right guard race is between grad senior Andrew Kristofic and a recently surging junior Rocco Spindler.
"Saturday (practice) will be big and next week (Blue-Gold Game on April 22) will be big, and I think those are kind of your tests," Rudolph said. "That’s what you’re evaluating off of to see who’s going to be able to do it in the moment."
Alt has spent the most time working with Schrauth, who may have the highest ceiling of all the interior linemen on the roster.
“I think he's a workhorse,” Alt said. “He has one of the highest care factors on the offensive line, and he wants it very, very bad. And he's willing to do whatever it takes. So, I think he's just a guy who cares and he's not worried about how much work it's going to take to get where he wants to be.”
► On the transition from Harry Hiestand as O-line coach, now retired, to Rudolph:
Alt was actually recruited by Hiestand’s predecessor, Jeff Quinn, and went from three-star prospect to midseason freshman starter under Quinn in 2021.
Alt has said his seismic growth from freshman starter to sophomore All-American was catalyzed by Hiestand. And now Rudolph becomes the third position coach in three seasons, but one who kept his promise to keep as much continuity as possible in what Hiestand was teaching.
“I think both coaches are very similar,” Alt said of Hiestand and Rudolph, the latter of whom appears every bit as demanding in practice but perhaps at more human decibel levels. “We've had a lot of continuity from the coaching change, a lot of similar verbiage, same ideas pushed both in the run and in the pass.
“And I think it's been a very easy transition for us, just because it's so similar and they both coach so similar. It's been going well.”
And what’s Rudolph’s impression of Alt after coaching multiple All-Americans at Wisconsin and being good enough to play offensive line at the NFL level himself?
“Some guys just have amazing talent,” Rudolph said Friday. “Amazing athleticism. Amazing size. And then there’s some guys who just have a quality of leadership and the grit, and the way they’re going to get it done in the moment.
“They’re going to be a great leader and make guys around them better. You don’t always find that all in one guy. He’s as close as I’ve got to all of that in one guy. He brings it from all facets, and it’s much appreciated.”
► On who’s impressed Alt on the defensive line from a unit that’s been constantly blitzing throughout spring:
“Javontae [Jean-Baptiste] and Jordan Botelho both have a really good first step,” he said. "They're quick off the ball and they've got a good use of their hands.
“They’ve both impressed me with their speed and their ability to both be finesse with their hands and use their hands to be able to get physical.”
Botelho, a senior, has started two career games for the Irish and is replacing all-time sacks leader Isaiah Foskey at the vyper end. Jean-Baptiste is competing to start at the field end after coming to ND as a grad transfer from Ohio State in January.
Jean-Baptiste played 16 snaps in OSU’s 23-10, season-opening victory over the Irish last Sept. 3 in Columbus, Ohio. And Alt remembers going against him in that game.
“It's funny, because you see tendencies,” Alt said. “Like, I can remember, you watch film, [and] you see tendencies that they do. And then you see him again, and it's like, ‘Wow, he's actually gotten a lot better as a player.’
“He still has those same tendencies, but you can see how much he's worked and how much he cares and how much better he's gotten at those things. It's been really fun to go against him. He's a great guy. I love to compete against him.”
► On how he processes the Irish offense laboring this spring in 11-on-11 periods in the practices that have been open to the media:
“I think our goal is just to get a little better each and every day,” Alt said. “I think we've grown so much from day one to now. We just have to continue to work to get better. But no, that's definitely not a day-to-day thing. We're constantly getting better, and you can see that in the film.”
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