Another Offensive Lineman from Michigan: How Gregory Patrick's Versatility Will Make an Impact
- Jhett Garrett
- 4 hours ago
- 4 min read
There's a saying in the recruiting world that goes: "The best players in Michigan come to Notre Dame," and Gregory Patrick is no exception. See how the note-worthy lineman can have a huge impact for the Fighting Irish.
Photo by Gregory Patrick
The “O-Line U” conversation cannot be had without bringing up Notre Dame football. With 538 all-time NFL Draft selections, 69 have been offensive linemen, including nine in the top 10, with Joe Alt being the most recent in 2024. Not to mention, two of the Irish’s 14 Hall of Famers were on the offensive line.
Gregory Patrick, a four-star offensive tackle and the number two overall offensive lineman in the 2026 class, is the latest to join the elite history of Notre Dame offensive linemen after committing to the Irish on April 13. Patrick, the highest-rated offensive linemen in the Notre Dame class, joined four-star Tyler Merrill and three-stars Ben Nichols and Sullivan Garvin in the number two overall class in the country.
Like Nichols and Garvin, Patrick is from Michigan and is entering his senior season at Portage Northern High School. Since joining the team in 2022, the Huskies have gone 20-11 and finished second in their conference in 2023 during his sophomore season. Standing at 6’4” and weighing 275 pounds, Patrick received offers from the likes of Michigan, Michigan State, Alabama, Penn State, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin, along with others. However, after visiting Penn State, Michigan, and Michigan State, Patrick decided South Bend was the perfect place to call home for the next three to four years.
“My mom came right out of that meeting and she was like ‘wow this is the best head coach I’ve probably spoken to,” said Patrick about Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman in an interview with 247 Sports. “He backs up everything he talks about. He is truly what he preaches.”
His father, Joseph Patrick, played football at Michigan State during his college years after committing to the Spartans in 1999. Although it was Joseph’s dream for his son to play with the Spartans, Gregory spoke fondly of how important his father was during his recruitment process.
“It was his dream for me to play at Michigan State,” Gregory said in an interview with 247 Sports, “As we went through the recruitment process, he kind of realized that Notre Dame was the best fit for me in the end.”
Joseph, who has been Gregory’s offensive line coach for much of his life, is willing to take a backseat. When it comes to Notre Dame’s offensive line coach, Joe Rudolph. After meeting with Rudolph and breaking down film from his junior year of high school, Gregory was amazed.
“It was really detailed stuff,” Patrick said in an interview with 247 Sports. “He was picking up some things that I hadn’t really heard a lot.”
Patrick’s film speaks for itself as he remains one of, if not the most, versatile offensive linemen in the class. His big frame allows him to play both sides of the line. Although he predominantly plays tackle, Patrick can slide inside and play guard as well, which is going to be one of his best traits when he steps on campus. He’s demonstrated great skills at the line of scrimmage, while also getting up the field and blocking undersized defenders in the screen game. Patrick does a solid job of staying within himself and doesn’t overextend to reach defenders off the edge while also keeping his feet square.
Most offensive linemen are either good at pass blocking and need help in the run game, or vice versa. However, Patrick excels at both, keeping his quarterback clean while also creating sizeable gaps for running backs. Patrick will thrive in a Notre Dame offense that consistently pulls its offensive linemen, which he has demonstrated during his three years in high school.
“I’ll start at tackle,” Patrick said in an interview with 247 Sports. “Then pretty much just wherever I’ll be able to play to win.”
Patrick also noted in that interview that he expects to start specifically at left tackle, the position he plays most at Portage Northern.
Following his recruitment, Joseph took to X to clarify exactly why his son committed to Notre Dame after reports came out that Michigan pulled out of his recruitment.
“Culture, relationships, education, development, tradition…that is what drove the decision,” Joseph said in his X thread on April 15. He went on to address the allegations of Michigan pulling out, saying that if the Wolverines didn’t want him, they had a “weird strategy” of offering him and hosting him on visits. He did clarify in his post that he has the utmost respect for Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore and staff, as well as the On3 recruiting staff, “outside of one reporter” from TheWolverine.com.
Regardless of false reports, Gregory is the fourth offensive lineman in the 2026 class and will join an already stellar front. In the 2025 recruiting class, Notre Dame picked up three four-star offensive linemen in Will Black, Owen Strebig, and Cam Herron.
Notre Dame plans to stay at the forefront of the “O-Line U conversation with the last two seasons of recruiting at the position. There is plenty of talent coming in, and Patrick has the potential to be one of the best, with a ceiling that reaches far beyond a career at Notre Dame.
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