Notre Dame Football: Brian Kelly Can Finally Build the Trenches

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Arguably the two biggest offseason personnel additions for Notre Dame football came on the respective lines.

But it’s more than the return of left tackle Ronnie Stanley and defensive lineman Sheldon Day that has Irish head coach Brian Kelly thrilled about the team’s status in the trenches.

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“That’s really been the emphasis for us, that toughness on both sides of the ball—offensive line, defensive line,” Kelly said. “It’s the first time I’ve been able to feel this way and develop that toughness.”

Kelly has said he felt Notre Dame needed to tiptoe around its injury and depth concerns in previous spring seasons. Now entering his sixth season at the helm of the Irish, Kelly finally has what he’s looking for. Notre Dame has stocked up on linemen, especially on the defensive side, in recent recruiting cycles.

“We can get in there and really get some good live action with our big guys,” Kelly said. “That’s so important in terms of controlling the line of scrimmage.”

The Irish have developed a horde of bodies on the defensive line, with Day, senior defensive end Romeo Okwara, junior defensive end Isaac Rochell and redshirt sophomore defensive tackle Jacob Matuska comprising the first unit while senior tackle Jarron Jones recovers from a Lisfranc injury. Sophomores Andrew Trumbetti, Grant Blankenship, Daniel Cage and Jay Hayes add depth, and early enrollee Jerry Tillery and redshirt freshmen Jonathan Bonner and Jhonny Williams could challenge for spots in the two-deep.

Without being specifically prompted, Kelly lauded Tillery, the 6’6½”, 300-pound, mid-year enrollee from Shreveport, Louisiana.

“Far and away the story is Jerry Tillery,” Kelly said when asked generally about toughness. “He’s just a unique player, one that I can’t remember that I’ve ever coached.”

Credit: 247Sports

Tillery has earned first-team reps, Kelly said, and uses his hands well, a point of emphasis from first-year defensive line coach Keith Gilmore.

“I don’t want to put him in the Hall of Fame…but he’s a unique talent,” Kelly said.

The Irish return three starters on the offensive line, with Stanley and Elmer (right guard) settling back in at their respective spots and Nick Martin shifting back to center. Redshirt sophomore Mike McGlinchey, who started in Notre Dame’s win over LSU in the Music City Bowl, is penciled in at right tackle. Redshirt freshmen Quenton Nelson and Alex Bars are jockeying for the starting job at left guard.

Kelly described Nelson as an extremely explosive, physically overwhelming presence. Bars, meanwhile, is efficient and technically sound, Kelly said.

Credit: 247Sports

“You have two guys here, one that is really physical at times can dominate and one who you think is a junior—been in the program three or four years,” Kelly said. “You turn on the film and, to me, it’s gonna be hard to make the call because you like what they both do at the position.”

With Notre Dame at full health along the offensive line and only missing Jones on the defensive line, expect competition to intensify throughout the spring.

Stability in the trenches will be key for an Irish squad that was both decimated by injuries defensively in 2014 and at one of its peak offensive levels all season when it played a smash-mouth style against LSU.

All quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Mike Monaco is a lead Notre Dame writer for Bleacher Report. Follow @MikeMonaco_ on Twitter.