Notre Dame Football’s offensive lineman earns exceptional NFL praise
![Notre Dame mascot Ryan Coury, center is squeezed between Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman Joe Alt (76), offensive lineman Rocco Spindler (50) as quarterback Tyler Buchner (12) and offensive lineman Blake Fisher (54) all sing the alma mater song after the game of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl of an NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 30, 2022 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish held off the South Carolina Gamecocks 45-38. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]Jki 123022 Ncaaf Nd Usc Cp 9](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_1080,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape%2Fcover%2Fsport%2F992d8b915261cbf7d730b3a9d31b4642a1f694e0514c046db1c3ec580decdd2f.jpg "Notre Dame mascot Ryan Coury, center is squeezed between Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman Joe Alt (76), offensive lineman Rocco Spindler (50) as quarterback Tyler Buchner (12) and offensive lineman Blake Fisher (54) all sing the alma mater song after the game of the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl of an NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 30, 2022 at TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. The Notre Dame Fighting Irish held off the South Carolina Gamecocks 45-38. [Corey Perrine/Florida Times-Union]Jki 123022 Ncaaf Nd Usc Cp 9")
Notre Dame Football has had an up-and-down season, but one offensive lineman has impressed plenty of scouts and analysts all fall.
There was hope that Sam Hartman or Audric Estime would be the Notre Dame Football team’s best hope at a first-round pick in next spring’s NFL Draft. However, as the season unfolded, it seems that offensive lineman Joe Alt might be that top Golden Domer pick.
Joe Alt has been impressing people since the season’s opening game. He’s blocked anyone and everyone, and it’s clear that if Notre Dame Football had five dudes on the offensive line like him, the season would be quite different.
Don’t take my word for it. Guys who make a living looking at college football players and deciding what they will do on the next level are signing Alt’s praises these days. The Notre Dame Football star is getting talked up something fierce. Most recently by offensive and defensive line expert Brandon Thorn.
Thorn took to Twitter to talk about what he’d seen from Alt. He thinks the Notre Dame Football star has impressed.
"“In terms of body control, balance & overall technique as a pass/run-blocker, I think what Joe Alt has put on tape this season is the best I’ve seen over the last four years of studying OL prospects in the draft. And to be 20-years old at 6’8″ 325 doing it is really something.”"
Notre Dame Football player has important fans
Thorn isn’t the only one blown away by Alt’s abilities. An NFL Draft Analyst from The Athletic, Dane Brugler didn’t waste any time joining in on the praise-fest.
"“100% agree. The improvements Alt has made from last year to this year has been awesome. Even when “off-balance” he has the body control to recover and regain his power. Alt has the tools and make up to be an NFL team’s cornerstone player.”"
What’s the most interesting thing about the notice that the Notre Dame Football offensive lineman is that had Marcus Freeman and company not messed with the chemistry in the middle of the season, he’d probably be even more impressive.
The numbers bear out what the experts say. According to PFF, Alt has the second highest grades on the Notre Dame Football offense after Estime. His pass-blocking number, 93.4 is near perfect. And his run-blocking grade of 79.7 is both pretty good and the best of the Irish.
The question these days isn’t “will Joe Alt go in the NFL Draft?” The question for Notre Dame Football fans now is “how quickly will he go?”