Notre Dame 99-to-0: No. 73 Andrew Kristofic, fifth-year right guard, likely starter

Listed measurements: 6-foot-5 ¼, 305 pounds. 2023-24 year, eligibility: A fifth-year, Kristofic has two seasons of eligibility remaining. Depth Chart: Kristofic had the edge of experience in the right guard position competition this spring, and that paid off with him emerging as the starter. Recruiting: Notre Dame initially noticed Kristofic as he protected his high-school quarterback, a passer by the name of Phil Jurkovec. The former Irish quarterback will return to face his old team and his longtime teammate in late October when Pittsburgh visits South Bend.

Of course, Kristofic has put together a much stronger Notre Dame career than Jurkovec managed to. A high school All-American and consensus four-star tackle, Kristofic chose the Irish over the likes of Clemson, Ohio State and Wisconsin, in part because Notre Dame had been recruiting him that much longer.

CAREER TO DATE Kristofic steadied the Irish offensive line in 2021, alongside then-freshman Joe Alt, when he replaced Zeke Correll at left guard. Kristofic and Alt meshed well and thus sparked Notre Dame’s ground game. Through the first six games of the season, the Irish averaged 120.5 rushing yards per game (sacks adjusted). Once Kristofic stepped in alongside Alt for the final six games of the regular season, that jumped to 218.3 rushing yards per game.

But moving both Josh Lugg and Jarrett Patterson to the guard positions in 2022 sent Kristofic back to the second string, starting only in Patterson’s place at Ohio State while the two-time captain was sidelined by a foot injury.

2019: 4 games 2020: 4 games 2021: 13 games, 7 starts 2022: 13 games, 1 start

NAME, IMAGE, LIKENESS The Notre Dame offensive line will spend the preseason repeatedly