Notre Dame's Quenton Nelson Ready For 2016 Season
Quenton Nelson feels lighter.
At 6-foot-4 ¾ and 325 pounds, believe it or not, he actually is lighter.
Nelson, Notre Dame’s hulking junior left guard, shed 20 pounds in the offseason, which has allowed him to play lower and move better, he said.
That’s bad news for the Irish opponents who have to face the first-team preseason All-American by Sports Illustrated.
“It was pretty noticeable,” Nelson said of the weight loss. “A lot of guys on the team were impressed with the shape that I got into. I gained a couple back in camp actually, but I feel good.”
After redshirting his freshman season, Nelson started all 13 games in 2015 alongside left tackle Ronnie Stanley and center Nick Martin — first and second round draft picks, respectively, who are now thriving in NFL training camp.
“They both helped me so much, when I was playing with them and even before the season even started, they would be coaching me up like I’m trying to do with the younger guys,” Nelson said. “I took away a lot from them. Everything they said to me was so valuable, and at that point in time, I was just trying to be a sponge and absorb everything they were saying.”
Now it’s Nelson and senior left tackle Mike McGlinchey who are the veterans on the line, assisting offensive line coach Harry Hiestand.
“It’s hard, but they showed us the way and me and Mike are doing a good job,” Nelson said. “Sam (Mustipher) and Alex (Bars) are leading too whenever they can. It’s a group effort and we’re going to need all five this year. We can’t just rely on two people like last year.”
The Irish are still unsettled at right guard with just over two weeks to go until the opener. Sophomore Tristen Hoge and senior Colin McGovern are the most likely candidates to get the snaps there, and Nelson feels the line is in good hands with both players.
“There’s not a set time where we need to have a starting right guard right now,” Nelson said. “They’re both doing a great job. I feel comfortable with either of them.
“Colin’s just more experienced, he’s been here longer and he’s a little bit more smarter with the way he plays. Tristen is very aggressive, which helps him out a lot of times but sometimes it has a negative effect like it would with me last year.”
Meanwhile, the combination of the massive 6-7 ½, 310-pound McGlinchey and Nelson on the left side is among the best in the country.
Nelson was asked by a reporter whether there’s a meaner guard/tackle tandem in America.
“I don’t think so, Nelson said.
“I really enjoy playing next to Mike and he makes me a better guard everyday and a better player. He’s doing a very good job. We’re both hyped for each other whenever we have a good block.”
And though Nelson excelled in 2015 and is expected to match or exceed that in 2016, he said Hiestand doesn’t coach any differently, though there isn’t as much yelling now that Nelson is an established starter with a grasp of the offense.
“He doesn’t really yell at me as much, but that’s because I’m not making the mistakes I would like last year,” Nelson said. “If I were still making those mistakes, he’d coach me the same.”
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