Why Billy Schrauth is the 22nd most important player for Notre Dame in 2023
Notre Dame is entering a new era of offensive guard play. After starting veteran graduate students Jarrett Patterson and Josh Lugg at both guard spots for nearly the entirety of 2022, there will be some youth to the equation in 2023.
Sophomore Billy Schrauth, who redshirted as a true freshman last fall, is Notre Dame’s 22nd most important player going into the upcoming season per a poll of five BlueandGold.com staffers.
Why Schrauth is No. 22
He lined up as a starter at left guard during the spring slate. Notre Dame did not get a transfer over the offseason to bolster its guard depth, so even though he has yet to play a single offensive snap Schrauth goes into the season as one of position coach Joe Rudolph‘s best options to be a starter at guard.
Pat Coogan, who is an option to back up Zeke Correll at center along with Ashton Craig, Rocco Spindler and Michael Carmody, who in a perfect world is more of a tackle, are at the top options at guard outside of graduate student Andrew Kristofic. There will be more on him later in the top 25 countdown. He’s facing a similar situation as Schrauth despite the age gap; he lined up as the starter at right guard throughout the spring.
Schrauth was a big recruiting victory for Notre Dame in the first few days of Marcus Freeman‘s time as head coach. He was always seen as a big part of the future of the Notre Dame offensive line, but he’s being thrown into the fire in his second season on campus. Keeping quarterback Sam Hartman upright in the pocket is paramount for the Irish this season. Schrauth is being asked to have a big hand in that.
What a successful season looks like for Notre Dame’s Schrauth
The ability to secure a starting spot for the season-opener and holding onto it all year long is the best-case scenario. Nobody expects Schrauth to immediately be one of the best guards in college football, but then again nobody expected Joe Alt to be one of the best tackles from the jump either. So it is possible for Schrauth to be an absolute revelation.
Expectations should be toned down a little to start, though. It would not be a failure to lose a starting spot to a guy like Spindler or Carmody. They’ve been around Notre Dame longer than Schrauth. That would make fending them off over the course of a 13- or 14-game slate all the more impressive.
Behind the ranking
The top 25 was determined in the same manner as the Associated Press Top 25. Five BlueandGold.com staff members submitted their ballots, and each position on the ballot was given a point value. The top ranking was worth 25 points, No. 2 was worth 24, No. 3 worth 23 and so on down until No. 25, which was worth one point. The players with the 25 highest point totals made the list.
Talent and the projected depth chart were key foundations for the poll, but voters placed a premium on these questions: 1) If you subtracted this individual from the roster, how much of a setback would it be? 2) If this less proven player emerges and makes an impact, how much does that raise the ceiling (or lower it, if a breakout does not happen as expected)?
Individual rankings
Tyler Horka: No. 13
Jack Soble: No. 18
Kyle Kelly: No. 18
Steve Downey: NR
Todd Burlage: NR
BlueandGold.com’s Notre Dame top 25 so far
No. 22: Sophomore offensive guard Billy Schrauth
No. 23: Junior wide receiver Deion Colzie
No. 24: Graduate student linebacker Marist Liufau
No. 25: Freshman wide receiver Jaden Greathouse
The post Why Billy Schrauth is the 22nd most important player for Notre Dame in 2023 appeared first on On3.
