Notre Dame 99-to-0: No. 72 Sam Pendleton, early-enrolled freshman offensive lineman

Listed measurements: 6-foot-4 ⅛, 300 pounds 2023-24 year, eligibility: An early-enrolled freshman, Pendleton has all four seasons of eligibility remaining. Depth Chart: Zeke Correll has had a long-term stranglehold on the center position at Notre Dame since he arrived in 2019. He had to wait behind and then work around Jarrett Patterson, but that aside, no one arriving in South Bend has had a genuine chance at playing center since Correll’s first days on campus. Hence, junior Pat Coogan dabbled at guard this spring. All that said, Pendleton is far enough behind Correll in years that he could have reason to genuinely focus on working at center, regardless of if he is on the second string or the third string this season.

Nonetheless, there will be some ambiguity in Pendleton’s long-term fit, so he is likely to work at both guard and center in the preseason on his way to the scout team. Recruiting: The No. 17 offensive guard in the class of 2023, per rivals.com, Pendleton looked past offers from Michigan, Florida and North Carolina State, along with Clemson, when he chose Notre Dame.

WHAT WAS SAID WHEN PENDLETON SIGNED IN DECEMBER “Pendleton has power in his arms, helping compensate for adequate footwork that (former Irish offensive line coach Harry) Hiestand will need to improve upon no matter where Pendleton aligns. He does keep his feet moving through an entire play, though, a key for many young linemen.

“He has built his reputation against inferior competition, no fault of his own, so there may be an adjustment period at the next level.”

NAME, IMAGE, LIKENESS There may not be a more honorable usage of NIL rights than the entire Irish offensive line enjoying piles of BBQ.

Fun to feed the @NDFootball