NOTRE DAME, Indiana — Notre Dame graduate student offensive lineman Liam Eichenberg has been selected as one of six national semifinalists for the 2020 Outland Trophy, honoring the nation’s top interior lineman.
Eichenberg owns 36-career starts (all consecutive) as part of an offensive line that has produced the second-ranked rushing attack in the ACC (235.0 yards/game).
Anchoring an offense that ranks third in the ACC in total offense (474.4 yards/game), Eichenberg and the Irish boast the best third-down conversion rate in the ACC at 51.8 percent, which ranks 10th in the FBS. Notre Dame boasts the second-highest first down total in the ACC (249), which ranks seventh among all FBS teams.
Behind its powerful offensive line, the Irish lead the conference (and rank sixth nationally) in time of possession, averaging 34:09 per game, more than two minutes ahead of the next ACC mark. The Irish have won the time of possession battle in nine of 10 games this season, and have controlled the ball for at least 36 minutes in three games.
Notre Dame is one of just six Power 5 teams to post three or more performances of at least 36:15 or more possession time this season.
Notre Dame’s starting offensive line boasts 153-career starts between the five veterans (Eichenberg, Banks, Patterson, Kraemer, Hainsey), the fourth-most in the FBS.
Eichenberg was tabbed the ACC Offensive LIneman of the Week twice in 2020 (at Pitt, at North Carolina), and was named to the Pro Football Focus Team of the Week vs. Louisville. He has been named to the Outland Trophy watch list, the Reese’s Senior Bowl Top 250 and tabbed as Pro Football Focus Preseason All-ACC First Team.
The six semifinalists will be pared to three finalists on Dec. 22. The recipient of the 75th Outland Trophy will be announced during ESPN’s The Home Depot College Football Awards on Jan. 7, 2021. The official presentation to the winner by the Greater Omaha Sports Committee is still to be determined.