'14 MD OG/DT Sam Mustipher (Notre Dame Signee)

[TheTurningPoint]

Mustipher will be center when Nick Martin leaves.

 

[irishog77]

Beating out Montellus/Bivin...or them playing guard?

 

[Irishman77]

Mustipher will be center when Nick Martin leaves.

Tristen will IMHO

 

[ResLife Hero]

Reviewing the Redshirts: OL Sam Mustipher - One Foot Down

Reviewing the Redshirts is an off-season series meant to resurrect discussion around the current Irish freshmen who did not play in 2014.

There were 11 players this past year who retained a year of eligibility and today we take a look at an athletic Marylander seeking a home on the interior of the line.

OL, Sam Mustipher

Mustipher

Hometown: Olney, Maryland

Height: 6-2

Weight: 305

247Sports COMPOSITE RANKING:

4-star, No. 12 OG, No. 3 MD, No. 216 USA, 0.9123 Score



Need at Position: Medium

Expected Spot on the 2015 Depth Chart: Second String, Somewhere

Another RtR post and yet another offensive lineman to cover. Will it ever end? Yes, this is the last of the 4-man O-line haul from last February and then we'll move on to the final handful of other redshirts from 2014.

I'm usually pretty strict and tough to please when we hand out our recruiting grades each year. Mustipher was someone who I was particularly grumpy towards last year.

Nice prospect but doesn't seem to overpower the competition in high school which is a concern. This fact alone, unless he's made tremendous strides during his senior season, makes me think he's at least a couple years away from serious playing time. Mustipher down blocks well and shows good motor, even if he blocks a little high sometimes. I think there's a lot of potential here but it's largely untapped. I'd really like to see him get stronger in his lower half and increase his overall strength. The expectation for a Notre Dame recruit on the line is to do plenty of mauling in high school and he's the weakest of the four in this regard for the 2014 class.

Simply put, Mustipher seemed like a tackle stuck in a guard's body. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, mind you. It's just I didn't see the overwhelming strength and power in the same way as classmate Jimmy Byrne or many other 4-star guards.

The interesting thing during Brian Kelly's NSD press conference last year when he was talking about Mustipher was that he brought up his good footwork. He did so three separate times in just a handful of sentences on a 30-second blurb on his new lineman. That was a lot of talk about something that isn't usually associated with guards.

Obviously the height isn't there for Mustipher to play tackle but those good feet are probably the reason why he started getting some work at center late last season.


Does he have a long-term future at center, though?

It might be Mustipher's best shot to see the field and grab a starting spot down the road. First off, the team is awaiting a 3 to 4-year career for Quenton Nelson at left guard set to begin in 2015. The other guard spot should be Steve Elmer's for a couple more years.

At center the Irish have Nick Martin entering his final season this fall and that position will need a new starter in 2016.

Now, if Mustipher started getting some work at center late last year what reason would there be to stop unless he's simply a better player at guard? It doesn't seem a certainty that he's going to train full-time at center but I think Mustipher would benefit from such a decision.

The wildcard in all of this will be Tristen Hoge, the freshman already on campus and the nation's No. 1 center. Mustipher is a year older and has more time in the program but this will be both players' first spring practices so there is a little bit more equality than you'd think. Hoge has also been working on his craft as a center for much longer and could be further along in his development in center-type skills.

However, size could be an issue for Hoge, at least for 2015. He was listed in the upper 270's for some time but did gain weight as a senior and was listed at 291 during The Opening, while Notre Dame listed him at 290 on National Signing Day. Kelly has mentioned in the past that he's fine with the center playing at 295 (Nick Martin's weight) so it's not a big issue but in comparison Mustipher might have as many as 20 pounds on him in 2015.

There's no easy answer here. It would be fascinating to see who played center if Nick Martin were to get injured but let's hope we never have to experience something like that. Nevertheless, someone is going to have to get second-team reps at center--and unlike the Martin/Hegarty combo last year where both were starting but the former backing up the latter in the middle--someone who isn't starting is going to have to be ready to go because I don't think Elmer or Nelson will get shifted to center.

I also don't think you can risk playing a true freshman this fall, so in terms of roster management it would be wise for Hoge not to be counted on as the main backup in 2015. Unless the staff plans on Mark Harrell playing the backup role and second team center--debatable but possible I suppose--I think you have to develop Mustipher beginning this spring, hope you don't need him to play either, and then let the chips fall where they may with a competition against Hoge in 2016.

 

[Old Man Mike]

I suppose that it's possible that Hunter Bivin is having chronic "minor" injuries which are keeping him out of conversations lately, but Bivin shifted to center in the post-season HS All-Star camp and was the MVP, wowing people with his work there. Because of Bars' apparent ascension to challenge McGlinchey at tackle, Bivin seems less needed there. The back-up center seems a natural place for a stud like Bivin to train.

But if Bivin is either unready to go, or Coach Harry has a wider plan, then this Mustifer-now scenario makes some sense. Since Matt Hegarty said that the staff wanted him to change positions, SOMEONE must have also been shifted to center. I thought that it would be Bivin. I found it very hard to believe that either Harrell would be considered #2 or that Hoge would be put up there, risking the traditional OLine first year redshirt. Perhaps the plan for 2015 is Mustifer. Despite some of the tone in the article above, we were reading about heroic weightlifting power numbers from Mustifer in High School.

As to the poundage on a center: we should remember that Michigan's great center of a couple of years ago weighed 280-something.

 

[ResLife Hero]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Breaking Down The Depth Chart - <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash">#NotreDame</a> OL Sam Mustipher. A complete look: <a href="http://t.co/tQqvlGKVc9">http://t.co/tQqvlGKVc9</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/NotreDame247">@NotreDame247</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/nironside247">@nironside247</a> (FREE)</p>— Tom Loy (@TomLoy247) <a href="https://twitter.com/TomLoy247/status/616297456343584769">July 1, 2015</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[woolybug25]

I'm starting to wonder if we should be moving Mustipher into the defensive tackle rotation?

Just a thought.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I'm starting to wonder if we should be moving Mustipher into the defensive tackle rotation?

Just a thought.

For extreme depth?

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[woolybug25]

For extreme depth?

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I suppose you're right. He's not a good fit for DE either. So he's kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place. If Hoge becomes the real deal, his chances at breaking the lineup are becoming increasingly poor. My thoughts on DT was simply based on having a heavy rotation of big bodies. Ala Bama 2012.

It's just crazy to think that we can't figure out a way to get a kid of his talent on the field. This kid had offers to every major program.

 

[zelezo vlk]

I suppose you're right. He's not a good fit for DE either. So he's kinda stuck between a rock and a hard place. If Hoge becomes the real deal, his chances at breaking the lineup are becoming increasingly poor. My thoughts on DT was simply based on having a heavy rotation of big bodies. Ala Bama 2012.

It's just crazy to think that we can't figure out a way to get a kid of his talent on the field. This kid had offers to every major program.

It's a byproduct of Harry killing it on the recruiting trail. The DT depth itself won't be bad either. The top end talent will be missing, but I doubt that Mustipher would make a difference in that regard.

Before anyone goes crazy: I love Sheldon Day and Jarron Jones, but Day will be gone after this year and maybe Jones as well.

 

[GoIrish41]

It's a byproduct of Harry killing it on the recruiting trail. The DT depth itself won't be bad either. The top end talent will be missing, but I doubt that Mustipher would make a difference in that regard.

Before anyone goes crazy: I love Sheldon Day and Jarron Jones, but Day will be gone after this year and maybe Jones as well.

Jones would likely have to have a monster year in order to be a candidate to bolt early. I like his game, but doubt he has that kind of year. And, with his brother coming into the next class, he is even more likely to stick around. If Jones does have that kind of year though, my concerns about our defense vanish and I'm booking tickets to the playoffs.

 

[zelezo vlk]

Jones would likely have to have a monster year in order to be a candidate to bolt early. I like his game, but doubt he has that kind of year. And, with his brother coming into the next class, he is even more likely to stick around. If Jones does have that kind of year though, my concerns about our defense vanish and I'm booking tickets to the playoffs.

I concur. I don't think it's likely that Jones will have a monster year, considering the fact that he's coming off a Lisfranc injury. I did read just today on ISD's boards that he's able to participate fully, though nothing was mentioned about him being full strength in his lower body.

I hope that Jones returns for his 5th year, but I wouldn't say that him leaving is out of the realm of possibility.

 

[WestCoast]

For extreme depth?

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I disagree that they have "etreme depth." Right now, there are two impacts players, then some guys who fill in when those two guys need a break. To me extreme depth would be subs that would starters on most teams.

If the OL is truly this stacked, then there should be a significant number of plays/bases utilizing a 6th OLineman. I don't think BK will do that, though, which is a shame.

 

[GoldenToTheGrave]

I disagree that they have "etreme depth." Right now, there are two impacts players, then some guys who fill in when those two guys need a break. To me extreme depth would be subs that would starters on most teams.

If the OL is truly this stacked, then there should be a significant number of plays/bases utilizing a 6th OLineman. I don't think BK will do that, though, which is a shame.

We did do a lot of h-back/double h-back sets in the LSU game, which I imagine we'll see a lot of this year. Very similar to what Clemson was doing with Tajh Boyd, who Zaire compares favorably too (Perhaps a bigger arm and more athletic version).

 

[PANDFAN]

brother PJ Mustipher class of 2018 four-star defensive tackle coming to the TEXAS game

is a Top50 prospect nationally

the 6-5, 275-pounder is ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the state of Maryland in his class Mustipher is the No. 33 overall player nationally, No. 5 defensive tackle in the country

"It would mean a lot to me to be offered by a program with that kind of prestige," said Mustipher of the Irish. "Notre Dame is a place like no other."
247

 

[woolybug25]

brother PJ Mustipher class of 2018 four-star defensive tackle coming to the TEXAS game

is a Top50 prospect nationally

the 6-5, 275-pounder is ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the state of Maryland in his class Mustipher is the No. 33 overall player nationally, No. 5 defensive tackle in the country

"It would mean a lot to me to be offered by a program with that kind of prestige," said Mustipher of the Irish. "Notre Dame is a place like no other."
247

[\insert lip licking gif]

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

[\insert lip licking gif]

How about a hug instead? :hug:

 

[Old Man Mike]

Sam is now listed as our back-up center, and could get some playing time relieving NMart. Also, OLine coaches often cross-train center back-ups as guard back-ups. Since I haven't heard particularly strong things about our guard back-ups [I'm assuming Bars is training for Stanley's spot], Mustipher could get playing time if we needed him at any of three positions. That might cast a happier glow in the Mustipher family about second son coming here. All sounds like good potential to me.

 

[BeauBenken]

brother PJ Mustipher class of 2018 four-star defensive tackle coming to the TEXAS game

is a Top50 prospect nationally

the 6-5, 275-pounder is ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the state of Maryland in his class Mustipher is the No. 33 overall player nationally, No. 5 defensive tackle in the country

"It would mean a lot to me to be offered by a program with that kind of prestige," said Mustipher of the Irish. "Notre Dame is a place like no other."
247

Everybody on this site talking to Brian Kelly right now:

 

[Irish#1]

Hoping BK is just waiting for him to visit.

 

[BobbyMac]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Sam Mustipher will be the starting center, Brian Kelly says. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NotreDame?src=hash">#NotreDame</a></p>— Irish247 (@NotreDame247) <a href="https://twitter.com/NotreDame247/status/721417077685403648">April 16, 2016</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Sherm Sticky]

Thought that was already known lol.


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[Sherm Sticky]

Have not heard his name mentioned by an answer since week 1...😀


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[BGIF]

Per ESPN

Per ESPN

Unsung hero for each Top 25 team

We know the star names, but which players, coaches and position units are not getting their fair share of the credit? Here are the unsung heroes for each Top 25 team:

9. Notre Dame: C Sam Mustipher

Notre Dame's offensive line has received a lot of attention this season, with offensive linemen Mike McGlinchey and Quenton Nelson getting most of the praise. But Mustipher has been a big part of an offense averaging 317.9 rush yards per game for a team off to a 6-1 start. -- VanHaaren

 

[Veritate Duce Progredi]

Happy to see Mustipher earning recognition, he's really stepped his game up. Hope he continues to ascending.

 

[JohnnyJasper]

Is it possible he could return for a 5th year??


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[FDNYIrish1]

Really nice to see him rebound after his troubles last year. He's doing a nice job for us.

 

[BobbyMac]

Is it possible he could return for a 5th year??


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Yes

 

[connor_in]

Who are backups at center for us right now?

 

[zelezo vlk]

Who are backups at center for us right now?

Ruhland I believe