Reviewing the Redshirts is an off-season series meant to resurrect discussion around the current Irish freshmen who did not play in 2016.

There were 11 players who retained a year of eligibility this past year and today we look at a feisty interior lineman hoping to move up the depth chart soon.

OL, Parker Boudreaux

Hometown: Winter Garden, Florida
Height: 6-4
Weight: 288

247Sports Composite Ranking:

3-star, No. 18 OG, No. 55 FL, No. 397 USA, 0.8802 score

Need at Position: Low

Expected Spot on 2017 Depth Chart: Third-String

Boudreaux was one of the more popular 3-star recruits for Irish fans in recent memory aided by his infamous bus pulling commitment video. In addition, he was one of the more highly rated recruits outside of the services and in general everyone here at 18 Stripes loved Boudreaux and his potential. Speaking for myself I gave him a 92 grade which is super high for a 3-star.

Unfortunately for Boudreaux his career got off to a rocky start as he was hospitalized with meningitis in late June 2016. Thankfully, he was able to recover relatively quickly but who knows how much that illness really impacted his freshman season. We do know he wasn’t ever considered anything but a scout team lineman last fall.

Boudreaux’s main asset in high school was his pure power. I thought he was among the top 3 or 4 most physical linemen commits of the Kelly era. There was some concern about his size (more below) but even that could be spun into Boudreaux playing center in addition to guard.

In his first entrance into the spotlight this spring Boudreaux started out at center and towards the end (and during the Blue-Gold Game) was getting work at right guard with the third team. He only got a few reps in the spring game but I did like his stoutness in the little bit of snaps we saw.

Boudreaux being on the third team this spring isn’t a great sign. The good news is that the (highly) likely loss of Quenton Nelson to the NFL after this fall will open up the door to a major competition at guard. The bad news for Boudreaux is that a pair of freshmen in Aaron Banks and Robert Hainsey have apparently jumped him while spending the entire spring on the second team–and both could play guard.

Size may end up being an issue for Boudreaux.

He was listed at 6-4 and 287 pounds as a high school senior but rumored to be much shorter. During his first year at Notre Dame he dropped down to 6-2 but added 8 pounds on the official roster. For this spring, Boudreaux went back up to 6-4 but lost a bunch of weight and is currently  listed at 288 pounds.

Science.

When his Pro Day rolls around in the future I wouldn’t be surprised if Boudreaux is measured under 6-2. There are a couple reps in the spring game where he’s battling with Daniel Cage (6-1 1/2) and they look roughly the same height. When I caught a screenshot of Boudreaux near Bivin (6-6) the former looks like an under-sized walk-on. Whether he’s 6-2 on the dot or maybe 6-1 1/4 there’s no doubt that Boudreaux is by far the smallest offensive linemen on the roster–and may be for his entire time at Notre Dame.

End of the day, it’s going to be an uphill climb for this redshirt freshman. There will be cries for patience but we know how quickly the window can shut for linemen at Notre Dame when blue-chippers are constantly coming in and shooting up the depth chart. A goal this season should be for Boudreaux to move up to the second-team and throw his hat in the ring as a possible backup in 2018.