Notre Dame football: Predicting five breakout players for 2016

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Sep 12, 2015; Charlottesville, VA, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman Alex Bars (71) participates in warm-ups prior to the Fighting Irish /

Alex Bars

Back when Zack Martin was locking down the left side of the offensive line for the Fighting Irish, a promising young player named Ronnie Stanley took care of the right tackle position. Then, when Martin graduated and was drafted to the NFL, Stanley slid over to left tackle and his spot was taken by Mike McGlinchey.

Now Stanley has been drafted, and McGlinchey is set to take over the left tackle spot and is expected to be another upper-round draft pick.

You get the picture: right tackles at Notre Dame have gone on to do big things. And in that spot this season will be junior Alex Bars. At 6-foot-6, 320 pounds, he is a physical specimen. He lost out on the left guard position to Quenton Nelson last season and then suffered a broken ankle against USC, but Brian Kelly has been upbeat and positive about his ability.

Next: Pro Football Focus ranks Notre Dame's offensive line No. 1

Yes, his technique and experience need to catch up some, but Bars has an extra year of eligibility after not playing his freshman year, and he has all the skills there to turn into the next great Irish offensive lineman.

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