Notre Dame Football: Jarrett Patterson the anchor of a revamped OL
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame Football team lost eighty percent of their offensive line this offseason, and Jarrett Patterson will be the anchor for the revamp.
In 2020, the Notre Dame Football team had a special group up front along the offensive line, a unit that was one of the best in the country. Protecting quarterback Ian Book, creating holes for Kyren Williams, and dominating the opposition, the Irish would go on to be finalists for the Joe Moore Award.
Though Alabama went home with that honor, it did not minimize what a special group of talent they were, and that was proven during the 2021 NFL Draft. With Liam Eichenberg and Aaron Banks going in the second round, and Robert Hainsey in the fourth, the Irish proved to once again be “Offensive Line U.”
In free agency, Tommy Kraemer was signed by the Detroit Lions as an undrafted free agent, meaning four members of the starting offensive line will be in the NFL next season. For the Irish, they have to revamp the group up front, and Jarrett Patterson is going to lead the way.
Notre Dame Football still outstanding along the offensive line
While it remains to be seen where Patterson will play in 2021, as Brian Kelly recently said his best place is center, but he could also be moved to tackle, there is no doubt he is a talented player. In fact, he could end up being a first-round draft pick before all is said and done, especially if he can show some versatility in a position change.
Wherever he plays in 2021, he is going to serve as the anchor for this offensive line, one that could have some true freshmen dot the starting lineup. Guys like Rocco Spindler and Blake Fisher have turned heads since arriving on campus and will rely on a veteran like Patterson to show them the ropes this Fall.
All told, Patterson is just a special player, and while the loss of the four guys who started upfront is a big one, he is going to be able to lead this next group of offensive linemen. The Irish stockpile offensive line help from year to year, and despite the subtractions upfront, you can expect the new group to be one of the best in the country, and Patterson a possible All-American.