Tommy Eichenberg recalls why his brother, Liam, chose Notre Dame over Ohio State

Another Eichenberg is about to enter the NFL, with Tommy Eichenberg going through the draft process at the moment. The Ohio State linebacker is hoping to make a mark like his older brother, Liam, a former second-round pick of the Miami Dolphins. He is now the starting center and a huge part of the offensive line protecting Tua Tagovailoa.

Originally from Cleveland, OH, the in-state Buckeyes were able to win out for Tommy, the younger brother. However, Liam went across state borders and decided to play his college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Ohio State was the other finalist but ultimately, moving out of state was the choice for the offensive lineman.

When asked why that decision was made, Tommy could not remember the exact reason. But if you were to ask Liam if there were any regrets, his answer would likely be no.

“When he committed, I was really, really young,” Tommy Eichenberg said. “I don’t remember what the determining factor was. I just know that he loved Notre Dame. He loved the coaches that he was with. I don’t think he regrets it at all.”

Eichenberg played under head coach Brian Kelly where he was a staple at left tackle. For three seasons, he was there for Notre Dame and had a ton of success. In his one season in a conference, Eichenberg was named an All-ACC player as the Fighting Irish played in the ACC Championship game and College Football Playoff.

With there being a three-year difference between the two, Tommy Eichenberg could have been around the age of 14 or 15 when his older brother chose to play for Notre Dame.

His recruitment wound up a bit different though, with Ohio State earning his signature. Eichenberg spent five seasons in Columbus and was a two-time member of the first-team All-Big Ten squad. During the 2023 season, he finished with 82 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 1.0 tackles for loss.

There was even some family rivalry taking place this season. Ohio State traveled to South Bend to play Notre Dame in what wound up as one of the best finishes in college football this season. Tommy will have bragging rights for quite some time, taking down his brother’s alma mater in dramatic fashion.

Now, there could be some competition in the NFL depending on where younger brother gets drafted. Or maybe Miami selects the linebacker and has a family connection on the roster.