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Notre Dame transfer OL Rocco Spindler announces commitment

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Rocco Spindler
USA Today Sports

Notre Dame transfer offensive lineman Rocco Spindler has committed to Nebraska, Net Sports Management tells On3. The top remaining player in the transfer portal visited five schools over the last week, spending time at Nebraska, Indiana, Pitt and Virginia.

The 6-foot-5, 325-pound offensive lineman started 23 games over the last two seasons at right guard. He has played 1,325 snaps in his Notre Dame career. The grad transfer has one year of eligibility remaining.

Nebraska has worked to address its offensive line in the winter portal window. The Cornhuskers picked up former Alabama right tackle Elijah Pritchett, a two-year starter for the Crimson Tide. But Nebraska lost out on New Mexico State offensive lineman Shiyazh Pete, meaning the Cornhuskers would like to add another starting-caliber offensive lineman.

They found that in Spindler, giving Nebraska another veteran offensive lineman who can step in and protect quarterback Dylan Raiola. As a freshman in 2024, Raiola led Nebraska to its first bowl game win since 2015.

A Clarkston, Michigan, native, the Wolverines were immediately viewed as a school to watch in his portal recruitment but never visited Ann Arbor. Spindler’s father, Marc, is a former Detroit Lions player and played at Pitt.

He was the starter at the beginning of the 2023 season missing the final three games due to injury. Spindler lost his starting job to begin the 2024 season and did not start the first three games. However, Billy Schrauth’s injury against Purdue in Week 3 resulted in Spindler returning to the offensive line rotation.

A former four-star recruit, Rocco Spindler was the No. 4 interior offensive lineman and the No. 65 overall recruit in the class of 2021 according to the On3 Industry Ranking. According to Pro Football Focus, Spindler didn’t allow a sack in 2024 but did allow 10 pressures while playing right guard. He earned a 71.8 pass-blocking grade and a 70.3 run-blocking grade while playing 747 snaps for the Irish this year.