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Notre Dame Will Be Laying It On The [Offensive] Line Again

Junior left guard Quenton Nelson made Sports Illustrated's preseason All-America first team. (Photo By Joe Raymond)

One would think the graduation of three of the five starters from Notre Dame’s productive 2015 offensive line would make that unit one of the top question marks entering this weekend’s opening of practice at Culver Military Academy.

Furthermore, it wasn’t just about the loss of quantity but also quality. Left tackle Ronnie Stanley was the No. 6 overall pick in the NFL draft (the highest by any Notre Dame player since 1993), center Nick Martin was selected in the second round and already been a standout for the Houston Texans, and right guard Steve Elmer would have returned with the most career starts (30) of anyone on the team had he not opted to graduate and enter the work force after his junior year.

Instead, head coach Brian Kelly indicated confidently this Friday that fifth-year offensive line coach Harry Hiestand’s top-five aggregate recruiting along the line since 2013 not only features a bevy of top-100-250 players who fit ideally into the school, but also the scheme.

“Four of the five are figured out,” said Kelly of the starting positions along the line.

That’s because the main experimentation occurred in the spring, whereas practice at Culver Military Academy starting on Saturday will be far more defined and should fortify stability and continuity on offense.

The spring “tryout period” included shifting senior Mike McGlinchey from right tackle to Stanley’s left tackle spot, starting junior right tackle Alex Bars getting an audition at right guard — as did sophomore center Tristen Hoge — and senior Hunter Bivin, the backup for Stanley last year at left tackle, receiving an evaluation at right tackle. Now, the more stabilized look entering camp has:

• McGlinchey at left tackle and junior Quenton Nelson at left guard. This might be the finest left side in all of college football. Among Pro Football Focus’ Top 101 players in college football, McGlinchey was rated the No. 1 offensive tackle (No. 36 overall) and Nelson joined him as the only other Irish player to make the list (No. 94). Nelson also is a Sports Illustrated Preseason first-team All-American.

• Junior Sam Mustipher clearly established himself as the starting center with a strong spring.

• Bars, who has practiced at every position except center during his first two seasons, is the right tackle. He started two games at left guard last season in place of the injured Nelson before a leg injury versus USC sidelined Bars the second half of the year.

“We think that is right spot for him,” said Kelly, who in December 2013 referred to Bars as possibly the most advanced freshman offensive lineman he’s had in his more than two decades as a head coach.

That leaves right guard as the unknown in the overall puzzle. Bivin was moved there by the halfway point of spring by Hiestand because “there are things he’s more comfortable doing in close quarters” than playing in space at tackle. That is also why Bars’ footwork led him to shift to right tackle.

“When the game’s on the line, you have to protect the edge to have a chance to win the game,” said Hiestand of Bars’ move outside. “If you can’t do that, that’s going to be a problem.”

Kelly said the top three candidate at right guard are Bivin (6-5 ½, 308), Hoge, who enrolled at 281 pounds last year as a freshman, was up to 300 this spring, and added 10 more pounds to move up to 310 this August on his 6-4 ¼ frame, and freshman Tommy Kraemer (6-4, 3/4, 315) — who like Hoge was a USA Today first-team All-American in 2015 the way Hoge was in 2014.

To Kelly, the positive this August is the other four starters can concentrate on their spots, whereas in the spring it’s about figuring out combinations while trying to mix and match.

“I don't see that as a huge mishmash of trying to figure out who goes there, other than maybe Hoge moving to right guard,” Kelly said.

The luxury is that while Hoge gets a crack at right guard, fifth-year senior Mark Harrell can take reps with the No. 2 unit at center behind Mustipher. Harrell arrived as a center prospect but also has worked at guard and tackle the past few years. He is a prime example of how a fifth-year senior can be a team asset even if he doesn’t start.

“Harrell is worth his weight in gold for us because he can play every position,” Kelly said. “He is our utility guy. He is invaluable to us.”

Hiestand’s 2016 line might have four new starters at five of the positions, but the expectation is the Irish can “lay it on the line” again to lead another Playoff run or at least a Big Six Bowl bid.

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