Notre Dame football: What does OL Sullivan Absher bring to the Irish?

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 01: A closeup of a Notre Dame Fighting Irish helmet during the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at State Farm Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cowboys defeated the Fighting Irish 37-35. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - JANUARY 01: A closeup of a Notre Dame Fighting Irish helmet during the PlayStation Fiesta Bowl against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at State Farm Stadium on January 01, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cowboys defeated the Fighting Irish 37-35. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images) /
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The Notre Dame football program is on a roll in terms of recruiting, this time landing an elite offensive lineman from North Carolina.

Notre Dame football keeps the recruiting momentum going, this time with 2023 offensive lineman, out of North Carolina, Sullivan Absher. His top three consisted of the Irish, NC State, and Clemson and by all accounts, Clemson seemed to be in a prime position to snag the talented lineman after a few visits.

He then took a visit to South Bend for the Blue-Gold Game and everything turned to Notre Dame football in a big way. The tradition, the academics, and the prestige of the offensive lineman around Notre Dame, to name a few things, were just too much to pass up on for Absher and his family and he officially announced his commitment on Friday evening.

The relationship with the current commits and the brotherhood of the current and former players on the team was huge here as well that can’t get overlooked. — At the moment, Absher holds 16 offers from the likes of Clemson, North Carolina, Stanford, NC State, and many more top programs in the country.

What is Absher bringing to the Notre Dame football program?

The 6’7 290 pound lineman has an outstanding physical presence and the athleticism you want along the offensive front. He does extremely well in space and has the length to go with it.

Not only solid in pass protection with the little-seen on film but a bruiser in run blocking. Very physical at the point of attack and someone you don’t want hitting you first upfront. His ability to get to the second level is notable and something you love to see early in his development.

I’d say his best position would be tackle, with his quick feet and length, once he gets to campus but you can’t count out playing guard because of his strength and size which goes well with his run blocking skills. I do think it’ll come down to need in the offensive line room throughout the next few years but that will be Harry Hiestand’s problem to figure out and that’s a great “problem” to have.

With Sullivan Absher making it known to the public, the current recruiting class has 13 pledges and adds to the number 1 recruiting class in the nation. There are now five commits on offense and eight on the defensive side.

Absher will be joining Sam Pendleton in the offensive line class with the staff hoping to make it five when this class is all said and done. At the moment the staff is working on raiding the state of North Carolina with Pendleton and now Absher, with a very talented lineman or two remaining the coaches have all eyes on.

“Offensive line U” isn’t stopping anytime soon and with Hiestand, back in control, this could get scary quickly, once again under his control.