The Future Might Be Now For Notre Dame Rookie Offensive Linemen

Overshadowed in The Futures Game during Saturday night’s Irish Invasion was the presence of those who were the future last year at this time.

Among those seen spending time together while viewing the camp were the three offensive linemen who signed this February: tackle Liam Eichenberg (who will wear No. 74), tackle/guard Tommy Kraemer (he will don the No. 78 worn by recent No. 6 overall NFL pick Ronnie Stanley) and guard Parker Boudreaux (No. 50).

Nowhere in college football is a true freshman less likely to play than along the offensive line. The necessary requirements of advanced strength, developed technique and exceptional knowledge of the offense are usually too steep for a big man to make an impact early.

In the eight seasons from 2008-15, 26 of the 28 Notre Dame offensive linemen recruited by Notre Dame were redshirted as freshmen, including eventual first-round picks Zack Martin, already a two-time Pro Bowl pick who was an All-Pro his rookie season in 2014, and Stanley.

The two exceptions happened to be early entrants who were able to participate in spring practice as freshmen and establish a base knowledge entering fall camp, while also partaking in a college strength and conditioning program: guards Trevor Robinson (2008) and Steve Elmer (2013), and they started three and four games, respectively, their first season.

It would appear the incoming trio is destined to follow a similar path of redshirting, especially because none was among the five early entrants during the 2016 spring semester. Nevertheless, at the conclusion of spring Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly indicated that the right side of the offensive line under coach Harry Hiestand is still unresolved enough to where he wants to at least keep an open mind about putting a freshman into the mix.

In fact, the center, right guard and right tackle positions have a total of two career starts among them entering the 2016 season — the fewest among any three starters at Notre Dame from center through right tackle since 1975, Dan Devine’s first season as the head coach. Junior center Sam Mustipher is slated to make his starting debut after a strong spring, as is the senior right guard tandem of either Hunter Bivin or Colin McGovern, both of who have been hampered by injury problems the past several years. Junior right tackle Alex Bars has two career starts on his dossier — but that was at left guard last season before he suffered a season ending ankle injury versus USC at midseason.

“Harry could disagree with me and that would be fine — I think Kraemer is going to come in and compete over there,” Kelly said. “I think Parker Boudreaux is going to come in and compete.

“… Maybe I’m ahead of myself, but I think those guys are going to get in there and compete with those guys as well.”

One of three incoming Irish rookies on Rivals.com’s Top 100, Kraemer is enrolling as the second-highest rated freshman in the Notre Dame class at No. 41, behind only defensive end Daelin Hayes (No. 31), with receiver Javon McKinley (No. 59), the third Irish figure in the Top 100. Eichenberg was a standout at the Under Armour All-American Game Jan. 2 in Orlando, Fla., and Boudreaux had the highest Nike Football Rating (a measure of overall athletic ability) among any offensive lineman at the prestigious The Opening held in Oregon in July 2015, including a 5.1 in the 40-yard dash, a 30.3-inch vertical jump and a 20-yard shuttle covered in an impressive 4.41.

Whereas the rangy 6-6 Eichenberg is strictly a tackle, likely on the left side, Kraemer could downshift to guard if needed, which might give him a better shot to help on the right side early.

The initial thought might be to switch Bars back to right guard, where he originally began the spring, but Hiestand sees him as too valuable and crucial at the tackle spot. Thus, if Kraemer or another freshman did emerge as one of the five best offensive linemen in camp, it would be more likely at guard than in space at tackle, similar to Elmer in 2013.

“It’s basically ‘start or redshirt,' ” Kraemer said last winter. “It’s pretty much cut and dry. Either you go in and win the spot, or use your freshman season to develop yourself physically and with the program.”