Notre Dame Football: Ranking every position group for 2018
By Jacob Wilson
Despite losing two of the team’s greatest offensive linemen in recent memory, Notre Dame will once again bring back a very talented unit in 2018. While it’s yet to be seen how all of the pieces fit together, the Irish will be able to try their luck with a promising next generation of offensive linemen.
As for last year’s incumbent starters, Notre Dame will return two full-time starters in fifth-year seniors Alex Bars and Sam Mustipher. Also, junior Tommy Kraemer and sophomore Robert Hainsey will seek to hold down their own spots on the line after splitting time at right tackle in 2017.
That leaves junior Liam Eichenberg, a four-star product out of Cleveland, as the team’s most likely fifth starter. The common consensus is that Hainsey will stay at right tackle and Mustipher at center while Eichenberg gets the call at left tackle. Additionally, Kraemer will make the switch from tackle to guard. Given the inexperience of Eichenberg, Bars will likely help out at left guard while Kraemer moves to right.
Despite all of the moving parts and the departure of former offensive line coach Harry Hiestand, the Irish still have plenty of leadership in this unit along with a more than capable replacement in coach Jeff Quinn. Look for the offensive line to once again be a linchpin for the success of the Notre Dame offense.