As spring progresses, the conversation around Notre Dame’s offensive line will turn to the four early-enrolled freshmen. Their arrival should, in time, provide genuine depth up front and accelerated development for the next few years, but given the veterans the Irish return, that praise will live only until the season arrives. At that point, the upperclassmen will demand any and all attention.
Notre Dame will trot out four returning starters at Louisville on Labor Day, totalling 55 career starts among them, 45 of which came last year. The smallest of that quartet? Two-year starting right tackle Robert Hainsey (pictured above) at 6-foot-5, 298 pounds.