Notre Dame football: Saying goodbye to a special group up front on offense
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football season ended on Friday against Alabama, and for a special group of offensive linemen, the ride comes to an end as well.
With their loss against Alabama in the Rose Bowl, the Notre Dame football team saw the careers of some elite players end inside AT&T Stadium. Of course, stories will be written about the career of quarterback Ian Book, who became the program’s all-time winningest signal-caller this season.
On defense, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah is going to be nearly impossible to replace, as he is a first-round talent who blossomed into one of the best players in college football. However, the real strength of this Notre Dame team came up front along the offensive line, and it is a special group that will certainly be missed in 2021, and beyond.
Offenses are only as good as their offensive line, and in the group that we are saying goodbye to, the Irish had a great one. From All-Americans, to absolute grinders that became essential to the success of this team, Brian Kelly will have to replace nearly every starter along the offensive line in 2021.
Multiple 2021 draft prospects
Liam Eichenberg, Aaron Banks, Tommy Kraemer, and Robert Hainsey are all seniors that have likely played their last games for the Irish. These four men have anchored this Irish offensive line for some time now, and have all carved out a special place in the history of the program.
Two College Football Playoffs, multiple ten-win seasons, and numerous awards have placed these four in the conversation of being one of the better collection of offensive lineman at the school at one time. They have paved the way for 1,000-yard rushers, helped Book become the all-time winningest quarterback in program history, and brought Notre Dame back to being a national power.
Banks was an AP first-team All-American this season, Eichenberg second-team, and Kraemer third-team, honors that show just how special this group is. All three were first-team All-ACC, while Hainsey was second-team, a fitting cap to a special career for this group.
As a unit, the Notre Dame offensive line is a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, given to the best offensive line in college football.
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After missing the final stretch of the season due to foot surgery, Jarrett Patterson could return in 2021, and that would be a huge lift for Kelly, as he is one of the best centers in college football. Remember, the 2020 season did not count towards anyone’s eligibility, but for guys like Eichenberg, Hainsey, Banks, and Kraemer, their careers in South Bend have come to an end.
All that is left to say to this group is goodbye, and thank you.