Tag: Notre Dame

Texans select OT Blake Fisher with 59th overall pick in 2024 NFL draft

The Houston Texans have found a potential long-term right tackle with the addition of Notre Dame offensive lineman Blake Fisher.

Teams win within the trenches. It’s why the Houston Texans are building up their lines en route to competing for the Super Bowl.

The Texans selected Notre Dame offensive tackle Blake Fisher with the 59th overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. Fisher, a two-year starter for the Irish, now is expected to compete for reps at right tackle while serving as a swing tackle.

During his time in South Bend, Fisher started 27 games, 26 of which came on the right side of the offensive line. The 6-foot-6 tackle was a standout during his junior season, allowing three sacks and two pressures.

Fisher said conversations with the Texans began back in Indianapolis at the scouting combine for a formal visit. He later had a Zoom interview with the Texans earlier this month. He said during his interview with the local media that he remains close with former Notre Dame and current Texans lineman Jarrett Patterson.

Fisher was exceptional as a run blocker during his time with the Irish. He has great length and a good balance to win against both defensive tackles and shiftier edge rushers.

The Texans don’t need Fisher to start right away, but having a succession plan in case of injury isn’t the worst plan. Tytus Howard has missed time over the past two seasons, including suffering a season-ending knee injury against Jacksonville in mid-November.

Fisher, who started his career as a left tackle while at Avon High School, said he’d be willing to move inside the guard if asked. For now, he’ll serve as a stable swing tackle option as Houston prepares to secure another AFC South title.

NFL Draft: Houston Texans Pick Notre Dame’s Blake Fisher in 2nd Round

Big Blake has a new home!

The second round of the 2024 NFL draft saw a second Notre Dame offensive lineman selected as tackle [autotag]Blake Fisher[/autotag] was selected 59th overall by the Houston Texans.

Fisher started at right tackle the last two seasons for Notre Dame after being the starting left tackle for the Irish to start the 2021 season, his freshman year.  An MCL injury in that first game at Florida State sidelined Fisher until the Fiesta Bowl of that season and when he returned, Joe Alt had emerged as a force at left tackle.

Fisher checked in at 6-6, 310-pounds at the NFL combine.  He’ll be tasked with helping protect quarterback CJ Stroud after an all-time rookie year for the former Ohio State quarterback.

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2024 NFL draft: Watch highlights of new Chargers WR Ladd McConkey

Get familiar with the newest member of the Chargers, Ladd McConkey.

The Chargers improved the wide receiver room with the selection of Ladd McConkey at No. 34 overall.

There were questions about when Los Angeles would address the position after taking Joe Alt in the first round. They answered them by moving up three spots to get McConkey, arguably the best route runner in this class.

To get familiar with the newest member of the Bolts, here are some highlights of McConkey:

 

Notre Dame hockey fans can Paint the Ice at Compton Family Ice Arena

Unleash your inner Picasso on the ice.

Notre Dame’s season wasn’t that great as it finished with a 15-19-2 record and lost its final five games. But that isn’t deterring the Irish from giving their fans a final opportunity to gather at Compton Family Ice Arena one final time before turning the page to next season.

It has become common in recent years for hockey teams to invite fans to paint their ice surface at the end of the season before they melt the ice. The Irish are providing that chance during their annual Paint the Ice event, which first was held in 2018.

Season-ticket holders will receive early entry beginning at 5 p.m. along with a photo opportunity in the Irish’s locker room. The general public will be allowed in from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Notre Dame students, faculty and staff can take part throughout the event, as can Saint Mary’s and Holy Cross students.

Prepare to show off your best artistic work on the ice. I would fail miserably at it because I can’t paint or draw to save my life. For those who can though, hold nothing back. But make sure there’s room for other people to paint, too.

Contact/Follow us @IrishWireND on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Notre Dame news, notes, and opinions.

Follow Geoffrey on Twitter: @gfclark89

Jim Harbaugh sticks to guns with selection of Joe Alt: ‘Offensive linemen, we look at as weapons’

Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz sounded off on the Chargers’ selection of Joe Alt.

The Chargers drafted offensive tackle Joe Alt at No. 5 in the 2024 NFL draft.

While not a luxurious pick, it meshed with Jim Harbaugh’s desire to inject the team with a physical, rugged, and imposing brand of football through the trenches.

“Offensive linemen we look at as weapons,” Harbaugh said. “When we talk about attacking on offense
 Offensive line is the tip of the spear.”

Alt played left tackle throughout his collegiate career, where Rashawn Slater has played and earned All-Pro status in 2021. Despite the addition of Alt, Slater will remain the team’s blindside blocker.

Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz did not directly say where Alt would play but did say that he would be a tackle, which could indicate that he will be the starting right tackle.

If Alt is the starting right tackle, he would overtake Trey Pipkins. Harbaugh was non-committal about Pipkins’ job status, calling him “one of our best five right now.”

“Don’t rule anything out, who’s going to play where. We’re going to play the best five that we have on the team.”

Despite being only 21 years old, Alt plays like a veteran. He is a polished and physical lineman who possesses great size/length, overall technique, and strength.

“You’re talking about a guy who’s still growing and maturing,” Hortiz said. “The upside with him is tremendous.”

Alt’s services will benefit Justin Herbert, who has been one of the most pressured quarterbacks since entering the league in 2020. He will also improve the ground game, which hasn’t been efficient for over a decade.

“He drives off the line of scrimmage,” Hortiz said about his run-blocking skills. “You watch him move players over three gaps on his down blocks. He’s very athletic. Excellent range. High-level competitor.”

Even after the addition of Alt, look for the work not to stop there.

“We’re not done with the offensive line either,” Hortiz added.

2024 NFL draft: Watch highlights of new Chargers OT Joe Alt

Get familiar with the newest member of the Chargers, Joe Alt.

The Chargers bolstered the offensive line with the selection of Joe Alt at No. 5 overall.

Many wanted a wide receiver, but Jim Harbaugh stuck to his guns by adding a physically imposing player who will not only keep Justin Herbert upright but improve the ground game.

To get familiar with the newest member of the Bolts, here are some highlights of Alt:

 

 

Twitter reacts to Chargers’ selection of Joe Alt

Here is a snapshot of how the general population reacted when Joe Alt was announced as the newest member of the Chargers.

There were some talks about the Chargers moving from the No. 5 overall pick, but they ultimately decided to stay put and select offensive tackle Joe Alt.

While many fans wanted Los Angeles to take a wide receiver, the pick of Alt matches up with Jim Harbaugh’s goal of becoming a more physical and imposing team and establishing an efficient ground game.

Here is a snapshot of how the general population reacted when Alt was announced as the newest member of the Bolts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2024 NFL draft – Chargers take Notre Dame’s Joe Alt at No. 5

LA Bound for Big Joe!

The Los Angeles Chargers are following Jim Harbaugh’s path to success in rebuilding their team.

Just as Harbaugh did at Stanford, with the San Francisco 49ers and at Michigan, Harbaugh and the Chargers addressed the offensive line with the fifth pick in Thursday’s opening night of the NFL draft.

[autotag]Joe Alt[/autotag] of Notre Dame, widely viewed as the best lineman in the draft, heard his name called relatively early Thursday night. Alt going  fifth is the highest a Notre Dame player has been selected since quarterback Rick Mirer went second to the Seattle Seahawks in 1993.

Alt leaves a big hole at Notre Dame but has the potential to solidify the left side of the Chargers offensive line for the next decade or more.

For more on the Chargers, follow our colleagues work at Chargers Wire.

Instant analysis of the Chargers’ selection of Notre Dame OT Joe Alt at No. 5 overall

The Los Angeles Chargers selected Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt with the 5th overall pick, adding offensive line help at right tackle.

Turns out that last-minute scramble over the JC Latham tea leaves was all for naught.

Los Angeles stuck with their guns on Thursday, making Notre Dame’s Joe Alt the first tackle off the board after months of speculation that they’d select him with their first round selection. Alt will flip to the right side for the Chargers, a move he’s been preparing to make in the lead-up to the draft, likely for this very scenario.

An NFL legacy – his father John played 13 seasons for the Chiefs in the 80s and 90s – Alt’s athleticism as a former quarterback and tight end will be the calling cards for easing his transition to the right side. He said at the NFL Combine that his experience at tight end especially should help him, considering he has some familiarity with putting his hand in the dirt from that side of the formation.

An agile, finesse tackle with high-end recovery ability, Alt generates push in the run game in a different way than what was perhaps expected from a Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz draft selection. But his smoothness as a pass protector will quickly plaster over any potential concerns that he’s not a true mauler in the run game. Notre Dame ran a balanced offense while Alt was there, and he was a key reason why running back Audric Estime had such a productive season in 2023.

This pick likely forces Trey Pipkins, set to count $8.75 million against the salary cap, to the bench. Pipkins’ contract does not allow for cap savings in a trade until after June 1. Despite having two seasons left on his deal, the Chargers could also easily escape the contract following the 2024 season, saving $6.75 million against the 2025 cap if they were to release Pipkins.

2024 NFL draft: Chargers pick OT Joe Alt with No. 5 overall selection

The Chargers bolstered the offensive line with the selection of Joe Alt.

The Chargers selected former Notre Dame offensive tackle Joe Alt with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Jim Harbaugh talked about instilling a physical and rugged identity into the team and improving the run game, so his first pick as Los Angeles’ head coach was beefing up the offensive line with Alt.

Alt was a staple up front for the Fighting Irish over the past three seasons. He was a starter during his freshman year in 2021 and held that role throughout his college career.

A consensus All-American in 2023, Alt only allowed four sacks throughout his career and was the highest-graded offensive lineman in the country this past season, according to Pro Football Focus.

Despite playing left tackle throughout his college career, Alt projects to take over Trey Pipkins as the Bolts’ starting right tackle.