Notre Dame football: 3 reasons to worry coming out of 2021 fall camp
By Brad Weiss
Notre Dame football: 3 reasons to worry coming out of 2021 fall camp
Revamped offensive line
Last season, the Irish had one of the best offensive lines in the entire country, as they were finalists for the Joe Moore Award, and saw four starters head to the NFL. Liam Eichenberg, Robert Hainsey, and Aaron Banks were all selected within the first three rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft, and Tommy Kraemer latched on as an undrafted free agent with the Detroit Lions.
Overall, it was an excellent group, but heading into 2021, only center Jarrett Patterson returns from that unit and will be counted on to anchor the offensive line. The other four starters are very intriguing, as some have started games for the Irish in the past, and Notre Dame will also start a true freshman at left tackle.
As a group, the talent is there for this offensive line to grow, and become one of the better units in the country, but it could take some time. Fortunately for the Irish, after a tough opener against Florida State on the road, they get Toledo and Purdue at home, two very winnable games, and the hope is that by the Wisconsin game, the unit upfront is playing at a high level.