Already considered one of the best offensive lines in college football, the Notre Dame unit might also have a new voice of leadership.
Ashton Craig is coming back from two straight seasons full of injuries. He’s suffered two ACL tears in the last two years, but now he’s healthy, looking like a starter, and trying to step up and have his voice heard more in the room.
“I definitely feel like I bring a sense of leadership and a voice to that group on the offensive line,” Craig explained to Irish Sports Daily. “I bring some physicality as well. It's just that I have a sense of calmness with the guys around me. I feel like I'm a big leader for that group up front.” Notre Dame offensive line coach Joe Rudolph agrees that Craig has become someone who can be counted on to lead the group and hold his teammates accountable.
Rudolph recently said that the other offensive linemen see how hard Craig works in the weight room. The coach said he believes the other players know his mindset and how committed he is to staying healthy, being as good as he can be, and helping the Fighting Irish win.
Ashton Craig emerges as leader of Notre Dame football offensive line
Rudolph added that Craig is one of those guys his teammates come to when they need help handling different situations. “How would you set this up?’ He's great with that. He has the voice of the room.”
Craig is also learning and leading on the job by going up against the best that Notre Dame has to offer. One player the offensive lineman singled out as a guy who’s hard to go up against is brand-new defensive tackle Francis Brewu.
“Francis is a freak,” said Craig. “He's a super strong human. It's rare to see a guy that strong and he plays athletic. For him, it's just like he's twitchy, he's super strong and it's just hard to stay on blocks against that guy.”
However, the offensive tackle has plenty of talent on his own. 6-foot-5, 283-pound three-star offensive tackle from Lawrenceburg High School in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, was a member of the 2022 recruiting class before signing with Notre Dame. the No. 39 player at his offensive tackle position and the No. 12 player in the state of Indiana according to 247Sports Composite Rankings.
Ashton Craig was named Indiana’s 2021 Mr. Football Offensive Line, earned All-State and All-Conference honors, and was selected to participate in the 2022 All-American Bowl. Now, while playing in the same state, he looks like someone who could dominate Notre Dame opponents while leading the rest of the offensive line to success.
Add us as a preferred source on Google