Notre Dame football: 5 returning players who’ll lead Irish reload in 2021
By Brad Weiss
![Dec 5, 2020; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly leads his players out of the tunnel before the game against the Syracuse Orange at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports Dec 5, 2020; South Bend, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish head coach Brian Kelly leads his players out of the tunnel before the game against the Syracuse Orange at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/17ef217727de6c205767f47bcd426d3fcf55fddc42d47f92838af3bb2b2013c9.jpg)
Offensive lineman Jarrett Patterson
As stated earlier, the Notre Dame football program is replacing four-fifths of their starting offensive line from a year ago, a task that would drown any other program. However, this is Notre Dame football we are talking about, a program that seemingly churns out NFL offensive linemen every season.
One player who does return after starting last season is Jarrett Patterson, who was the team’s center before a season-ending injury against Boston College. Ranked as one of the best centers in the country, Patterson could be making the move over to left tackle, replacing a potential first-round pick in Liam Eichenberg.
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Patterson is an outstanding talent and a player who should eventually find his name called in the first round as well. This season, he will lead a young group that could start multiple true freshmen in Blake Fisher and Rocco Spindler, and if he does move to left tackle, he will be tasked with the most important role on the line, protecting the quarterback’s blindside.