SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The first taste of first-team reps at Notre Dame for Rocco Spindler came in his first semester on campus as an early enrolled freshman in 2021.
As then-offensive line coach Jeff Quinn tinkered with possibilities for a revamped line, Spindler and fellow freshman Blake Fisher were given opportunities at left guard and left tackle, respectively. They both drew high praise from Irish nose tackle Kurt Hinish.
“Rocco Spindler and Blake Fisher are damn good,” Hinish said in April 2021. “They’re really good offensive linemen, and they’re going to be really good here. They’re the best two freshman offensive linemen I’ve ever seen or went against.”
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The careers of Spindler and Fisher have been significantly different since then. Fisher went on to win the starting left tackle job for the 2021 season opener, but a knee injury derailed his season until he returned as the starting right tackle in the Fiesta Bowl to end the season. Fisher started 13 more games last season as Notre Dame’s right tackle with fellow classmate Joe Alt manning the left tackle spot as an All-American.
Meanwhile, Spindler failed to break his way into the starting lineup either of the past two seasons. He ended up stuck behind Zeke Correll and Andrew Kristofic at left guard in 2021 and a combination of Jarrett Patterson, Josh Lugg and Kristofic at the two guard spots in 2022.
His breakthrough finally came this preseason with Joe Rudolph, his third offensive line coach in three years, naming him the starting right guard ahead of graduate senior Kristofic. Spindler’s first career start will come Saturday in Dublin, Ireland, when Notre Dame plays against Navy (2:30 p.m. EDT on NBC).
The 6-foot-5, 314-pound Spindler became a legitimate contender in the competition during spring practice but still needed to pass Kristofic during preseason camp.
“I know I had a lot of confidence about midway of spring ball, and there’s great competition between Andrew and I,” Spindler said. “He’s a great competitor, one of my best friends on this team. We went at it day in and day out. I have to give him all the credit I can. He’s a really good football player.
“There wasn’t really a specific time. I had a lot of confidence in coach Rudolph and just believing in the basics and getting back to square one of just playing football and getting down everything.”
The Clarkston (Mich.) product embraced the bumpy road, as head coach Marcus Freeman likes to call it, while Alt and Fisher, members of his 2021 recruiting class rose to success. On recruiting reputation alone, Spindler was expected to be an impact player for the Irish. Rivals ranked him as the No. 4 offensive guard and No. 68 overall prospect in the 2021 class.
Spindler didn’t harbor jealousy for Alt and Fisher. He recognized that his trajectory wasn’t meant to be as sudden as theirs.
“Those guys are pretty damn good football players,” Spindler said. “That’s what you want to envision yourself doing. That’s how I envision myself. I want to be like these guys, but at the same time I want to be the next Rocco Spindler.
“Those guys lead the way. They’re the leaders of our group. They set the standard, and they play at a high level, as you guys can see. We want to either get to their level or even raise it. That’s been the standard for Notre Dame O-line for a while now.”
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Rudolph joked earlier in preseason camp that Spindler spent the first four days on the ground during spring practice this year. That wasn’t exactly the best first impression, but Rudolph’s teachings started resonating with him in ways that didn’t seem to click with Quinn or Harry Hiestand.
“With coach Rudolph, he brought different things that I didn’t think of with other previous coaches,” Spindler said. “He showed new techniques, new ways of blocking. I’m sure it really helped a lot. I’m thankful for that.”
As for those days spent on the ground?
“It could have been a mix of everything,” Spindler said. “Could have been aggressive, could have been footwork, could have been weight. Honestly, 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 with Zeke here, also on the same play I can help Blake. It’s a matter of how everything factors in. It’s really just simplifying what you have to do on that play.”
As Spindler’s knowledge continued to evolve, Correll noticed the difference from lining up next to him at the starting center spot.
“Rocco’s taken some big steps,” Correll said. “Mentally he’s been a lot more dialed in. That’s helped him play with a little more clarity, and it’s helped him play faster.
“Now he’s been able to use that strength that he has and really be able to come off the rock and be able to use that strength and physicality that he has against guys versus a little earlier in the spring where he knew what he was doing but with maybe a little uncertainty, a little hesitation, versus now he’s playing a lot faster, which has helped him a lot.”
Spindler admitted Tuesday that he didn’t call his father, Marc, when he found out the winning job. Rather than sharing the news first with a former NFL defensive tackle, Spindler wanted to reach out to his mom, Rochelle.
The wait was finally over, but the job has only begun.
“I called my mom,” Spindler said. “I’m a mama’s boy, to be honest. It’s a surreal feeling. I’m not trying to take too much of it in right now. I’m trying to really focus on playing at a high level this Saturday against Navy.
“My parents are pumped. 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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