3 matchups in Notre Dame football vs. Ohio State that will influence outcome and draft boards

Joe Alt vs. J.T. Tuimoloau

The other Notre Dame offensive tackle has not been inconsistent. On the contrary, up until this point, left tackle Joe Alt has been as close to perfect as it gets in pass protection.

Alt hopes to be the first offensive lineman off the board in the 2024 NFL draft. If the experts and hype machines get their way, he will be.

PFF ranks Alt as the ninth-best overall prospect and the second-best tackle. The left tackle ranks tenth on Mock Draft Database’s consensus board.

Alt will need to continue to work on his run blocking and get a consistent push in the power run game if he wants to continue his climb in the draft rankings. However, if an NFL franchise needs a stellar pass-blocking offensive lineman, Alt continues to show he can be that for a team at the next level.

The game against Ohio State will be the first of several litmus tests for Alt, as he will be assigned to protect Sam Hartman’s blindside from J.T. Tuimoloau.

Tuimoloau finished last season with 10.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, and two interceptions. So far this season, he has only recorded seven total tackles, 0.5 tackles for loss, and zero sacks. While he pressures opposing quarterbacks at a decent rate, he has not been able to get to quarterbacks as much as he would like.

Mock Draft Database has Tuimoloau as the 18th-best player overall on their draft board. PFF now has the Buckey edge rusher at 35, down one spot from a week ago. If he wants to maintain his high draft rankings, Tuimoloau must produce more for his stat line in 2023. A great place to start would be at the expense of the projected high first-round pick, Alt.

Tuimoloau will provide a challenge for Alt. If the left tackle can come out of this game unscathed, as he did in some of his toughest matchups last season, it will go a long way toward helping cement himself as one of, if not the best, linemen in the country this year.

The matchup between the Buckeyes’ defensive ends and the Irish’s offensive tackles is a dream for talent evaluators for those positions. Throw in Ohio State’s defensive tackles, Michael Hall and Tyler Williams, the big guys up front will be exciting to watch.