Notre Dame Fighting Irish - Official Athletics Website

Quenton Nelson Named 34th Unanimous All-American In School History

Dec. 13, 2017

NOTRE DAME, Indiana – University of Notre Dame senior offensive guard Quenton Nelson became the 34th unanimous All-American in Notre Dame history when he was selected to the 2017 American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) All-America Team Wednesday. He is the first Irish offensive lineman to earn such an honor since tackle Aaron Taylor in 1993.

Nelson was a first-team All-American on all five teams the NCAA recognizes to calculate unanimous standing. He was previously selected to the All-America squads by the Football Writers Association of America, The Sporting News, The Walter Camp Football Foundation and the Associated Press.

Nelson is Notre Dame’s sixth-ever unanimous All-American offensive lineman — joining the likes of tackle Joe Kurth (1932), tackle Ed Beinor (1938), guard Dick Arrington (1965), center John Scully (1980) and Taylor (1993).

Nelson, Notre Dame’s 2017 Monogram Club Most Valuable Player, spearheads 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).

Nelson 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.

Nelson is Notre Dame’s 84th different player and 100th total selection to earn consensus All-America status – both are more than any other school.

Notre Dame’s All-Time Unanimous All-Americans

1929 Frank Carideo, QB
1930 Frank Carideo, QB
1931 Marchy Schwartz, HB
1932 Joe Kurth, T
1938 Joe Beinor, T
1946 John Lujack, QB
1947 John Lujack, QB
1949 Emil Sitko, FB
1949 Leon Hart, E
1952 John Lattner, HB
1953 John Lattner, HB
1954 Ralph Guglielmi, QB
1965 Dick Arrington, G
1966 Nick Eddy, HB
1966 Jim Lynch, LB
1969 Mike McCoy, DT
1971 Walt Patulski, DE
1972 Greg Marx, DT
1975 Steve Niehaus, T
1976 Ross Browner, DE
1977 Ross Browner, DE
1977 Ken MacAfee, TE
1978 Bob Golic, LB
1980 John Scully, C
1987 Tim Brown, FL
1989 Todd Lyght, CB
1990 Raghib Ismail, FL
1990 Chris Zorich, DT
1990 Michael Stonebreaker, LB
1993 Aaron Taylor, OT
2002 Shane Walton, CB
2009 Golden Tate, WR
2012 Manti Te’o, LB
2017 Quenton Nelson, OG — ND —