SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Junior offensive lineman Billy Schrauth has been selected to the Lombardi Award Watch List. The award honors the nation’s outstanding lineman who best epitomize the values of leadership, courage, performance and discipline on and off the field.
Notre Dame has had five winners of the Lombardi Award: DE Walt Patulski (1971), DE Ross Browner (1977), DT Chris Zorich (1990), OL Aaron Taylor (1993) and LB Manti Te’o (2012). Notre Dame student-athletes who were finalists for the Lombardi Award include OG Larry DiNardo (1970), DL Steve Niehaus (1975), DL Ross Browner (1976), TE Ken MacAfee (1977), LB Bob Crable (1981), DL Chris Zorich (1989), OT Aaron Taylor (1992) and OT Joe Alt (2023).
Schrauth started 12 games of 2024 for the Irish. He was part of an offensive line unit that paved the way for Notre Dame’s rushing offense to rank No. 4 among the Power 4 in yards per carry (5.66), ranking No. 7 among all FBS teams. The Irish ranked No. 6 among Power 4 teams in rushing offense (210.8).
With 45 rushing touchdowns, the Irish led all Power 4 teams and ranked third among all FBS programs in rushing touchdowns.
Notre Dame outpaced their opponents’ average yards allowed entering the game in every game of the 2024 season. The Irish rushed for an average of 84.69 yards more than each opponent’s average rushing yards allowed entering the game, while outpacing their average yards-per-carry allowed entering each game by an average of 2.27 yards per carry.
Notre Dame’s offensive line group was a semifinalist for the Joe Moore Award, honoring the nation’s top offensive line unit, in both 2023 and 2024.