Restocking: The offensive line

In landing five offensive linemen during this recruiting cycle, Notre Dame filled a critical need at a position group that had gotten way too thin. With Steve Elmer and Mike McGlinchey, the Irish have two intriguing candidates that have NFL potential at tackle. In John Montelus and Colin McGovern, Harry Hiestand has two true guard prospects that immediately infuse some size and physicality to the depth chart. And in Hunter Bivin, the offensive line has an intriguing athlete, and a guy that could play center — or just about anywhere else — depending on his development.

Filling holes up front was one of the most critical needs of the recruiting cycle, as the depth on the offensive line had gotten scarily thin. It’s worth taking a look back at the past few recruiting classes and see just how the situation was created.

2008
Braxston Cave — Started three seasons at center.
Lane Clelland — Reserve offensive lineman, didn’t return for a fifth season.
Mike Golic — Fifth year player who started final season at right guard.

2009
Alex Bullard — Transferred to Tennessee after death of his father. Part time starter for Vols.
Zack Martin — Four-year starter at left tackle of Irish.
Chris Watt — Three-year starter for Irish at guard.

2010
Matt James — Blue-chip tackle died in spring break accident before enrolling at ND.
Tate Nichols — Plagued by injuries since arriving in South Bend. Career might be over.
Christian Lombard — First-year starter at right tackle in 2012.
Bruce Heggie — Recruited as a defensive end, Heggie is now a reserve center/guard.

2011
Brad Carrico — One time DE, switched to OL before foot injury ended his career.
Conor Hanratty — Reserve guard will battle for open job in 2013.
Matt Hegarty — Medical issues appear to be cleared up, starting center candidate.
Nick Martin — Candidate for job at either center or right guard.
Jordan Prestwood — Florida State transfer left Notre Dame. Now at UCF.

2012
Mark Harrell — Redshirted his freshman season.
Ronnie Stanley — Saw time at tackle before injuring his elbow.

2013
Hunter Bivin
Steve Elmer
Mike McGlinchey
Colin McGovern
John Montelus

The turnover on the offensive line has been pretty staggering, to the point where Brian Kelly and company have to feel like they’ve been a little snake bit. The staff barely had a chance to see what Alex Bullard could do before he returned home to Tennessee. Matt James was the elite tackle prospect Notre Dame desperately before his spring break tragedy. The Irish thought they had another tackle until Taylor Decker flipped to Ohio State in the final days of the 2012 recruiting cycle.

Add to that the bad medical luck they’ve had with Carrico, Nichols and Hegarty, and the departure of Prestwood, and you begin to see just how badly the Irish needed to recruit the offensive line, regardless of projected position. People may have scoffed at low-rated recruits like Mike Golic and Bruce Heggie, but they were vital pieces of the depth chart this season, and Golic’s return was a necessity.

Way too early spring projection

What the Irish decide to do with the interior of their offensive line should be interesting. There’s no question Zack Martin is locked in at left tackle. Christian Lombard had a nice first season at right tackle as well, though he is a bit undersized.

But with Chris Watt by far the best interior lineman on the roster, do Kelly and Hiestand toy with moving Watt to the right side, helping to prop up a new center and Lombard, while Martin helps bring along a rookie guard? Can Ronnie Stanley win a tackle job, forcing Lombard inside? The Irish were incredibly left-handed last season running the football and they’ll continue to be that if some unestablished players don’t step up and seize and opportunity. But with three returning starters, the foundation is set for continued improvement along the line.