Notre Dame Football: Is Rocco Spindler already a top-50 guard?
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame Football team is revamping their offensive line this offseason, and some true freshman could crack the starting lineup.
During the 2021 NFL Draft, the Notre Dame Football program saw three of their starting offensive linemen get selected. With Liam Eichenberg and Aaron Banks going in the second round, and Robert Hainsey picked in the fourth, the Irish once again showed why they are considered “Offensive Line U.”
After the draft, the fourth starter from last year, Tommy Kraemer, was signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent, and he is going to get a real chance to make that roster. Overall, this is a great group that is leaving the Irish, but there is still a bunch of talent left in the cupboard.
Recently, Big Game Boomer tweeted out a list of the top-50 offensive guards heading into the 2021 campaign, and a Notre Dame true freshman was listed at No. 41. That freshman was Rocco Spindler, who was getting first-team reps during the spring and comes to the Irish as a four-star recruit, and the No. 4 offensive guard in the country per Rivals.
Notre Dame Football loaded along the offensive line
Spindler is not the only true freshman who could start for the Irish along the offensive line in 2021, as Blake Fisher was getting first-team reps this spring as well. Overall, the Irish have taken what should have been a tough situation, and just reloaded along the offensive line, which is pretty remarkable.
Sure, there are bound to be some growing pains this season upfront, especially if two true freshmen start, but these are both big-time prospects. The Irish are looking to once again notch double-digit wins, and possibly get back to the College Football Playoff, and it will be how fast this group comes along that will be key for them on that side of the ball.
The Irish saw nine total players taken in the 2021 NFL Draft, which was one of the higher numbers of any school in the country. They have a lot of work to do in terms of the starting lineup heading into the summer but do not be surprised if this offensive line is not only young but downright dominant this Fall.