Notre Dame football: Robert Hainsey to make 2021 preseason debut
By Brad Weiss
The Notre Dame football team saw four starters along the offensive line head to the NFL this offseason, and one makes his debut on Saturday.
The Notre Dame football team had one of the best offensive lines in the country last season, paving the way for Kyren Williams to rush for over 1,000 yards, and Ian Book to have another terrific season under center. The problem now, is, that four of those five starters are in NFL camps, leaving the current team with a revamped group in front of newly-minted starting quarterback, Jack Coan.
Luckily for the 2021 Irish, they have guys who can come in and replace them, including Cain Madden, a graduate transfer from Marshall who was an All-American for the Thundering Herd. One of those players that are being replaced is right tackle Robert Hainsey, a third-round pick of the defending Super Bowl champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Hainsey was dominant for the Irish last season, but in Tampa Bay, he is joining an offensive line that is loaded, making it hard for him to lock down a starting job as a rookie. Still, he will have a chance to make an impact in Year 1.
Notre Dame football star to make his preseason debut
So far this offseason, Hainsey has not yet taken the field for the Bucs, but that will all change when the team takes on the Houston Texans in their third preseason game. Hainsey has been battling an injury for most of the summer but has shown versatility, playing center, and showing the ability to play guard or tackle as well.
On Saturday, according to Scott Smith, he is going to make his debut, and fans of the Bucs should be excited about that.
That is the kind of versatility that made Hainsey a third-round pick, as he can play all over the line, and has the size and athletism to make an impact no matter where he lines up. He is entering a perfect situation in Tampa Bay and will get to work with a legend in Tom Brady, while eventually moving up the depth chart and becoming an anchor for this offensive line in years to come.