Phil Steele high on Notre Dame OL, WRs; ranks each Irish offensive position unit nationally
With 50 days to go until Notre Dame kicks off at Ohio State, the Irish offense remains one of the bigger high-profile question marks in college football. The summer preview magazines have been hitting stands across the country, and expert Phil Steele has released his annual preseason opinions, predictions and more.
Included in the famed magazine is a set of national position unit rankings, and two Notre Dame groups made the top 15 in their respective categories.
Offensive line: No. 9
Unsurprisingly, the offensive line is the highest ranked unit on the offensive side of the ball, coming in at No. 9.
“Offensive line coach Harry Hiestand has molded some solid O-lines at Notre Dame and is back after leaving in 2018,” Steele said. “Last year when Joe Alt was inserted at left tackle and Andrew Kristofic at guard, the offensive line took off and had 224 (rushing yards per game) with 13 sacks in the last eight games.”
Steele cites the 83 career starts that the 2022 offensive line brings to the table as a major factor behind his ranking.
Top-15 offensive line units on the Notre Dame schedule: Ohio State (3), BYU (11)
PROMOTION: Sign up for just $1 for your first year at Blue & Gold
Receivers — No. 11
Steele’s receivers category includes both true wide receivers as well as tight ends. And Notre Dame’s star tight end is certainly part of the reason the Irish sit just outside of his top 10.
“The Irish may be thin at wide receiver but have talent,” Steele said. “They have one of the best tight end rooms in the country led by scary Michael Mayer and four backup tight end’s (who) were all rated PS #10 or better.”
The “PS #” category is Steele’s ranking of the player out of high school.
Top-15 receiver units on the Notre Dame schedule: USC (1), Ohio State (2), Stanford (13)
Quarterbacks — No. 39
Steele did not provide a write up for any units ranked outside of the top 15, but one can reasonably assume the lower ranking here is due to a lack of experience at the position. Rising sophomore Tyler Buchner is the likely starter, with junior Drew Pyne and freshman Steve Angeli backing him up.
The college football guru did, however, provide some insight into his thoughts later in the magazine for his full preview of Notre Dame, citing Buchner’s rushing abilities as a perk the Irish did not have in last year’s starter, Jack Coan. His general sentiment with the group is that they could outperform both the 2020 and 2021 groups.
“Despite being less experienced, this unit could put up better numbers once again as (offensive coordinator Tommy Rees) has confidence in Buchner,” Steele said.
Top-15 quarterback units on the Notre Dame schedule: Ohio State (1), USC (3), Boston College (12)
Running backs — No. 50
Like the quarterback position, Steele did not cite a rationale for his ranking here. There are many uncertainties with the group, especially considering sophomore Logan Diggs is currently rehabbing a torn shoulder labrum and freshman Jadarian Price is out for the season with an Achilles injury.
The Irish have junior Chris Tyree, sophomore Audric Estime and freshman Gi’Bran Payne as healthy running backs heading into fall camp. Tyree is the speed back likely to also play in the slot, Estime is the bruiser, and it remains to be seen exactly where Payne fits into the mix.
Top-15 running back units on the Notre Dame schedule: Ohio State (2), USC (9), Syracuse (10), Clemson (11)
