Dec. 11, 2017
NOTRE DAME, Indiana – University of Notre Dame graduate offensive tackle Mike McGlinchey and senior offensive guard Quenton Nelson were named First-Team All-America by the Football Writers Association of America Monday.
McGlinchey and Nelson are the first pair of Notre Dame offensive linemen to garner first-team honors in the same season by the FWAA, which was founded in 1941. They’re the first Irish teammates to receive such recognition from the FWAA in the same season since offensive tackle Aaron Taylor and safety Bobby Taylor in 1993.
McGlinchey and Nelson, who were each also named first-team All-Americans by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and the Associated Press, spearhead an offensive line that paves the way for the third-best FBS rushing attack in yards/carry (6.37), 12th-best in rushing TDs (35), eighth-best in total rushing yards (3,349) and seventh-best in rushing offense (271.9 rush yards/game).
Notre Dame has rushed for at least 300 yards in seven of its 12 games this season. The Irish lead the nation in in rushing TDs (nine) and rank third in rushing yards (877) against AP top-25 opponents. Notre Dame also leads the nation in rushing yards (2,253) and ranks second in rushing TDs (23) in games against FBS teams with a winning record. The Irish are the only FBS team with at least 2,000 rush yards and at least 20 rushing TDs this season against FBS teams with a winning record.
Notre Dame is the only unit in the country to average over 250.0 rush yards/game with at least seven games against FBS teams with a winning record (and Notre Dame’s played nine). The Irish average 250.3 rush yards/game and 5.84 yards/rush in its nine games against FBS teams with a winning record.
Notre Dame ranks in the top three nationally in runs of at least 20 yards (t-3rd, 39), 30 yards (2nd, 26), 40 yards (3rd, 15), 50 yards (3rd, 11), 60 yards (t-1st, nine) and 70 yards (2nd, four).
McGlinchey, a two-time Irish captain, has started 38 times in his 50-game, four-year playing career. In 2017, he’s started all 12 games at left tackle and ranks as the third highest-rated offensive lineman and second highest-rated tackle in the country by Pro Football Focus (43.3.).
McGlinchey, Notre Dame’s Offensive Lineman of the Year, has surrendered three sacks, two QB hits and nine QB hurries in 825 offensive snaps, as compared to the only offensive tackle ranked ahead of him (Cole Madison, Washington State) has allowed four QB sacks, two QB hits and 13 QB hurries. He’s the highest-rated offensive lineman in terms of run blocking in the country by Pro Football Focus (34.1) — next highest-rated run-blocking lineman is Nelson at 33.0 and next-best tackle is at 25.2.
Nelson, Notre Dame’s 2017 Monogram Club Most Valuable Player, has started 35 times in his 36-game, three-year playing career. In 2017, he’s started all 12 games at left guard and ranks as the highest-rated offensive lineman in the country by Pro Football Focus (48.1) — next highest-rated lineman sits at 44.9. Nelson has far surpassed any other offensive guard in the country as well — next highest-rated guard sits at 39.0.
Nelson has not surrendered a sack or QB hit, and allowed just two QB hurries in 819 offensive snaps this season. In fact, over his career (2,336 snaps), Nelson has surrendered just two sacks, none in the last two years, and only two quarterback hits.
Nelson’s the highest-rated offensive guard in terms of run blocking in the country by Pro Football Focus (33.0) as well — next highest-rated run-blocking guard sits at 25.5.
The FWAA All-America Team was first selected in 1944, three years after the organization was formed. The FWAA’s inaugural team included Army’s Heisman Trophy tandem of Doc Blanchard and Glenn Davis and Georgia Tech’s Frank Broyles, who later became Arkansas’ head football coach and athletic director.
Since 1945, the FWAA All-America Team has been among the five teams used to formulate the NCAA’s annual consensus All-America team, which will be announced later this week. Since the 2002 season, the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA), The Associated Press, The Sporting News and the Walter Camp Football Foundation have joined the FWAA as the five designated selectors by the NCAA.
The Football Writers Association of America, a non-profit organization founded in 1941, consists of more than 1,300 men and women who cover college football. The membership includes journalists, broadcasters and publicists, as well as key executives in all the areas that involve the game. The FWAA works to govern areas that include game day operations, major awards and its annual All-America team.
— ND —