Listed measurements: 6-foot-4 ⅝, 325 pounds.
2023-24 year, eligibility: A junior, Spindler has three seasons of eligibility remaining.
Depth Chart: Spindler entered spring practices expected to compete to be one of Notre Dame’s starting guards, but fifth-year Andrew Kristofic took the lead at right guard while sophomore Billy Schrauth seemed to emerge from April as the starter at left guard, leaving Spindler as the backup to one or the other, most likely Kristofic.
Recruiting: A Michigan native, Spindler made a habit of visiting his homestate powerhouse, doing so six times during his recruitment. He also checked out that school down south (Ohio State) three times before he chose Notre Dame. An Under Armour All-American and consensus four-star prospect, rivals.com ranked Spindler the No. 4 guard in the class of 2021 and the No. 67 overall prospect.
CAREER TO DATE
Spindler has yet to play a genuine snap along the offensive line, the vast majority of his appearances coming as protection on field goal and point-after attempts. What stands out about that is Spindler so impressed as an early enrollee in the spring of 2021, challenging eventual Day One starter Blake Fisher for the most hype among freshmen.
2021: 2 games.
2022: 12 games.
NAME, IMAGE, LIKENESS
Oh, that Gatorade cap in the second photo, that is the definition of “Drip.”
QUOTES
Kristofic may have won the springtime competition to be the starting right guard, but Spindler made it more of a genuine challenge than any claims about him pushing for playing time in the past warranted.
“On the right side, it’s been a really good battle between Andrew and Rocco,” new Irish offensive line coach Joe Rudolph said in mid-April. “Andrew has been really steady. He’s been out there before and knows it.
“Rocco continues to get better. From where he started to where he is now, he and (sophomore center) Ashton Craig have probably made the most growth.”
Notre Dame OL coach Joe Rudolph says Rocco Spindler has had his best practices of the spring the last two days. pic.twitter.com/zbQsn2Rmk7
— Matt Freeman (@mattfreemanISD) April 14, 2023
WHAT WAS PROJECTED A YEAR AGO
“Cain Madden’s transfer from Marshall curtailed the rampant praise of Spindler from 2021’s spring. With Madden joining the Irish, the open starting guard positions fell by half, and Notre Dame had enough veterans with untapped possibilities to no longer rely on the early-enrolled freshman.
“From afar, that came across as Spindler losing ground in his development, but that was unfair; a preseason bout of COVID set Spindler back a few steps. Furthermore, only two freshmen have ever started the season opener on the Irish offensive line. Spindler so often being mentioned in the same breath as classmate Blake Fisher, one of those two, set undue expectations.
“Carry those no further, not even into 2022.
“Both Kristofic and Correll started at left guard ahead of Spindler last season. There is every reason to believe they both would this year, as well. The top-five linemen may yet be in flux, but Spindler is not even No. 6 or 7.
“This will be a fall spent working with returned offensive line coach Harry Hiestand on fundamentals while knowing all along a rash of injuries would change the weekly stress for Spindler. He is not entirely removed from the playing conversation, but he is not a piece of the immediate equation, either.”
2023 OUTLOOK
Barring injury to Kristofic, the most likely pathway to playing time for Spindler may be Schrauth struggling on Saturdays. The sophomore out of Wisconsin looks the part of a player, but he is still young and could find himself lost in the mix among defensive blitzes.
That is not predicting such will happen; it is simply saying, Schrauth disappointing could force Spindler into the lineup on the left side of the line.
Otherwise, Spindler may need to bide his time. That time may be only so long, given how often injuries strike offensive linemen.
Reportedly, Spindler returned to campus this summer significantly lighter, his August (really, late July) weigh-in perhaps tipping the scales at only 310 pounds. That added quickness would better fit the pulling guard role that was always featured in Tommy Rees’s offense and figures to continue being a piece in Gerad Parker’s.
DOWN THE ROAD
Kristofic has two seasons of eligibility remaining. He may not use that sixth year in 2024, but he also may. Why would Notre Dame perhaps encourage him to move on? Because his staying could come at the expense of Spindler in South Bend.
Offensive line talent is hard to find on the transfer market. Spindler’s recruiting pedigree would entice many programs, and he had a relationship with some of the best in the country before he signed with the Irish. This is not a prediction, just an acknowledgment of realities.
NOTRE DAME 99-TO-0
The summer countdown begins anew, Rylie Mills to Deion Colzie
No. 99 Rylie Mills, senior defensive tackle, moving back inside from end
No. 98 Devan Houstan, early-enrolled four-star defensive tackle
No. 97 Gabriel Rubio, junior defensive tackle, one of three Irish DTs with notable experience
No. 95 Tyson Ford, sophomore defensive tackle, up 30 pounds from a year ago
No. 93 Armel Mukam, incoming freshman defensive end, former Stanford commit
No. 92 Aidan Keanaaina, a senior defensive tackle now ‘fully healthy’ after a 2022 torn ACL
No. 91 Aiden Gobaira, sophomore defensive end, former four-star recruit
No. 88 Mitchell Evans, the next starter at ‘TE U’
No. 87 Cooper Flanagan, incoming freshman tight end, four-star recruit
No. 84 Kevin Bauman, senior tight end coming off a torn ACL
No. 83 Jayden Thomas, junior receiver, probable No. 1 target in 2023
No. 79 Tosh Baker, senior tackle, again a backup but next year ...
No. 78 Pat Coogan, junior interior offensive lineman
No. 77 Ty Chan, sophomore offensive tackle, former four-star recruit
No. 76 Joe Alt, first-team All-American left tackle
No. 75 Sullivan Absher, incoming freshman offensive lineman
No. 74 Billy Schrauth, sophomore left guard, likely starter
No. 73 Andrew Kristofic, fifth-year right guard, likely starter
No. 72 Sam Pendelton, early-enrolled freshman offensive lineman
No. 70 Ashton Craig, sophomore interior offensive lineman
No. 68 Michael Carmody, senior offensive lineman
No. 65 Michael Vinson, sixth-year long snapper, four-year starter
No. 64 Joe Otting, incoming freshman offensive lineman, four-star recruit
No. 59 Aamil Wagner, sophomore offensive tackle
No. 56 Charles Jagusah, incoming freshman offensive lineman, four-star recruit
No. 56 Howard Cross, fifth-year defensive tackle, multi-year starter
No. 55 Chris Terek, incoming freshman offensive lineman, four-star recruit
No. 54 Blake Fisher, junior right tackle, second-year starter
No. 52 Zeke Correll, fifth-year center, third-year starter
No. 51 Boubacar Traore, incoming freshman defensive end, four-star recruit
No. 17 Brenan Vernon, incoming freshman defensive end, four-star recruit
No. 13 Holden Staes, sophomore tight end, up 20 pounds in a year
No. 12 Penn State RB transfer Devyn Ford gives Notre Dame newly-needed backfield depth, experience
No. 4 Rhode Island transfer safety Antonio Carter gives Notre Dame desperately needed backline depth
