There are very few schools that can lay claim to the title of “O-Line U”. Notre Dame is certainly among that group, and even still, the offensive line seems to be one of the biggest question marks heading into the 2024 campaign. With Texas A&M and their talented front-seven right around the corner, it isn’t the most enviable position to be in. Freeman and company will have to figure out which five currently on the roster give the team the most consistent chance to win this season, but reinforcements are on the way in 2025.
Photo via Owen Strebig
Current 4-Star OT Owen Strebig is set to arrive on campus next year, and when he does, he will be hard to miss. Already standing at 6’8" and weighing 300 lbs entering his senior season of high school, he possesses what cannot be taught: Size. Let’s break down some of the key factors that are indicative of a prospect's overall skill and see where he stacks up. As always, these skills will be graded from one (1) to seven (7), with one being poor and 7 being elite.
Mental Processing: Very Good (6)
A lot of people may just view linemen as maulers, but a high football IQ is needed to play at an efficient level, and this is something I think Strebig shows. He understands his assignments in the run game very well. On combo blocks, he has a good feel for recognizing when to disengage from his initial block and work up to the second level defender, creating holes for his running back to slip through.
Play Strength: Very Good (6)
Pancakes galore. When you turn on the film, the first thing that stands out is how he imposes his will on defenders. He does a good job of staying connected on blocks through the entirety of the play, and consistently puts defenders on the ground. He will occasionally grab high, so he will need to work on his hand placement to really maximize his strength and avoid holding penalties at the next level.
Competitive Toughness: Elite (7)
There was a specific play I watched that I thought really shined in terms of competitive toughness. A QB rollout pass from the 30 yard line was completed down to the opponents 35. After some broken tackles by the WR, he made his way down to the five yard line where he was held up by defenders for what looked like the play ending tackle. Here comes Strebig hustling SIXTY FIVE YARDS downfield to help push him in from behind for a touchdown. Those type of intangibles cannot be coached, and I thought it was very telling about the type of competitor he is.
Run Blocking: Very Good (6)
His coaches use him in a variety of ways in the run game, in both zone and gap schemes. His lateral agility isn’t his strongest trait, which at his size can be expected, but still shows ability as a reach blocker, establishing and maintaining outside leverage on the front side of zone run plays. In a gap scheme, he does a great job using his strength on down blocks, washing defenders down the line of scrimmage.
Pass Blocking: Adequate (3)
Technique is vital to pass blocking, and after digging through game footage and camp clips, this is where I feel like coaching will play the biggest role in his development. At his height, it is already hard to play with a low pad level. Pair that with playing with too wide of a base and overextending himself on his initial punch, and he becomes very susceptible when facing bull rushes. His punch timing overall could be better, sometimes just passively extending his arms too early, leaving them open to be swatted down on swim and rip moves. Will get his feet crossed occasionally, and will need to work on his kick step in order to mirror double moves from athletic pass rushers. His length will give him a huge advantage once he fine tunes his technique, and I’m sure Offensive Line Coach, Joe Rudolph, will be up to task in helping him get there.
There have been plenty of greats to play in the trenches in South Bend, and that culture will only continue to thrive under the current regime. Owen Strebig will be one of the next to carry the torch. The potential to play early in his career will hinge on how quickly he can polish his game in pass protection. With his competitive demeanor and high ceiling football IQ, I do not see that as being much of a problem, and future Notre Dame Quarterbacks should sleep well at night.
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