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Notre Dame Football: Ranking who will be most impactful in 2020 (15-6)

By Jack Leniart

ATHENS, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 21: Drew White #40 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts in the second half while playing the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATHENS, GEORGIA - SEPTEMBER 21: Drew White #40 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish reacts in the second half while playing the Georgia Bulldogs at Sanford Stadium on September 21, 2019 in Athens, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 28: Tommy Kraemer #78 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish blocks against Bradley Chubb #9 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the second quarter at Notre Dame Stadium on October 28, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN – OCTOBER 28: Tommy Kraemer #78 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish blocks against Bradley Chubb #9 of the North Carolina State Wolfpack in the second quarter at Notre Dame Stadium on October 28, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

12. Tommy Kraemer (Offensive Guard)

Best Ranking: 8

Worst Ranking: 20

Tommy Kraemer was a five-star prospect out of Cincinnati and the top-rated player in Notre Dame’s 2016 recruiting class. Understandably, expectations were high for Kraemer. Everyone thought he would be the next great offensive lineman to play in South Bend.

Following a redshirt year, Kraemer won the starting right tackle job in 2017. He started 12 games for the Irish and was part of an elite offensive line that won the Joe Moore Award. As I mentioned earlier, Notre Dame averaged 6.3 yards per carry (third best in the FBS) and broke the school record for rushing yards in a single season (3,503 yards) in 2017.

Prior to the start of the 2018 season, Kraemer was moved inside to guard. That move was the result of a reshuffling of Notre Dame’s offensive line following the departures of Mike McGlinchey and Quenton Nelson.

Kraemer appeared in 12 games that season, but he only started ten of those games. I think some of that can be attributed to the position change.

Kraemer was receiving a fair amount of praise and hype heading into the 2019 season. He was named to the AP Preseason All-American Second Team and appeared on the Outland Trophy Watch List.

His 2019 season was cut short after he suffered a knee injury in late October. Fortunately, it appears that the recovery from that injury did not significantly inhibit his spring and summer conditioning.

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