Notre Dame football: The 5 best to play on the offensive line

There’s no shortage of great Notre Dame offensive linemen who could have made the list of 5 best offensive linemen. That just comes with the territory of being “Offensive Line U.”

Of the modern era who easily could have made this list are players like Nick Martin and Zack Martin. The two brothers both started for the Irish, with Zack outshining his brother. At Notre Dame, Zack Martin started in the National Championship Game and was an All-American. Nick was no slouch either, as he was a three-time All-Independent in his own right.

Ronnie Stanley and Mike McGlinchey were both All-Americans under Brian Kelly and would each become first-round picks in the NFL. Center Jeff Faine may be well known for his long and successful NFL career, but before he dominated in the NFL, he was a monster on the offensive line for Notre Dame.

There are also eleven other offensive linemen in Notre Dame history who made it into the College Football Hall of Fame but didn’t make this list. They are Heartley Anderson, Frank “Nordy” Hoffman, Jack Cannon, Zygmont Czarobski, Bert Metzger, Edgar Miller, Fred Miller, Adam Walsh, John Smith, Jerry Groom, and Tommy Yarr. The majority of these players were Knute Rockne coached.

Of those College Football Hall of Famers, Heartley Anderson is most notable. Known as “Hunk,” Anderson played at Notre Dame from 1918-1921. After an elite playing career, it would be Hunk Anderson who replaced Knute Rockne in his death.

To go along with that long line of College Football Hall of Famers, there are players like Jim Martin. Martin was an All-American in 1949, playing for and winning 3 National Championships under Frank Leahy. George Connor and Bill Fischer were Martin’s teammates on two of those teams. Then there’s Art Hunter was the key blocker for Johnny Lattner during his Heisman Trophy season.

Suffice it to say, it’s obvious why Notre Dame is, and always has been, “Offensive Line U.”