Joe Rudolph Saw More in Notre Dame OL Sullivan Absher and Pushed Him to Find It

Sullivan Absher grew up about two hours from Chapel Hill, so this weekend will feel like something of a homecoming for the Notre Dame offensive lineman.

As a North Carolina native and a Tar Heels basketball fan, the trip will be a special one for the 6-foot-7, 320-pounder.

“I've got a good group of about 15 people coming,” stated Absher. “Just old coaches, family members, high school buddies. I haven't really thought of it any differently than any other game.

“I did grow up a Carolina basketball fan, loving every bit of it, but a different story when it comes to football. I kind of have just been looking at it like every other game.” 

Absher has earned Notre Dame’s starting right guard job after four games, but the process has been about more than simply winning a position battle.

He had to prove to offensive line coach Joe Rudolph that he could play at a high level for an entire game.

In Notre Dame’s season opener, Styles Prescod started at right guard and played 33 snaps, while Absher played 31 snaps after taking over to start the second half.

“Going in, I thought Sully was probably about a 30-play-a-game guy and that was kind of it,” explained Rudolph. “I wanted to make sure we got CJ (Carr) protected and I knew we’d get 30 reps out of Sully and we did.

“I thought both of them did some good things. I thought both of them needed to be better in some areas.” 

Absher wasn’t satisfied with simply being part of the rotation and it didn’t take long for him to make a statement.

“That following week, (Absher) really practiced well,” stated Rudolph. ‘He made it through the whole week of practice. That gave me more confidence in watching him.” 

From the outside, it might have appeared Rudolph was hesitant to hand Absher the starting job, particularly with competition seemingly around every corner during fall camp.

That was by design.

Rudolph wanted to put Absher in a position where he could prove he was capable of playing a full game while continuing to improve.

And, perhaps most importantly, a conversation with Absher’s mother gave Rudolph another clue about how to push the young lineman.

“His mom said something to me one time where she kind of joked about staying on him,” Rudolph said. “It was about something completely different, that was separate from football. It just kind of shed light where maybe there’s more here and I’ve just got to create the pull to get it out.

“How do you get that out of them as a coach? You create competition and you let those kids play their butts off and make each other better. Styles has done that for him. Matty (Augustine) has done that for him. He’s done that for Matty. He’s done that for Styles. They keep bringing out the best in each other.”

The fall camp roller coaster was probably more dramatic from the outside, given the limited media access and the way Rudolph managed the guard rotation to start the season.

But Absher felt the ups and downs.

“From the outside, it does seem like the highest of highs, lowest of lows, and, on the inside, it did feel like that at times,” explained Absher. “You come back, and you take a step back, and you’re like, ‘This isn’t going to change the work I’m going to put in. This isn’t going to take away from my love for this university, my love for this team.’

“You kind of put that all aside, and you just flush it, and you go out and ‘Leave No Doubt’ that you can’t be left off the field.” 

Absher has continued to build on that mindset.

It starts with his preparation, and the sophomore has found a routine that allows him to focus on improvement. 

“It starts on Monday,” said Absher. “We’ll come together [as a team] and watch the film. Then you have your practice. We each have one thing for the pass, one thing for the run- O-line-wise. That’s our mindset going into each play.

“It starts in individual reps, going into team reps, whatever it may be. You come back and watch the practice, and it’s either a check or an X if you got your one thing accomplished.” 

Now, Absher will take that preparation back to his home state for a matchup against a North Carolina defensive line that could present the toughest challenge Notre Dame has faced so far this season.

And he's ready for it.

“Some different body types, some athletic body types, some quick body types, some slippery body types,” said Absher. “Not quite the guys we see every day, but we have to put a lot of respect and a lot of detail into this scouting report and in this game plan just because they do have a tremendous coaching staff.

“They are going to play a pro defense and I’m sure they’ll be highly detailed with their technique. I’m excited for the challenge.” 

Want the latest scoop on Notre Dame Football and Recruiting? Become an ISD Premium Subscriber and never miss the inside information. Sign Up for ISD

Notre Dame Fighting Irish Champion Operation Hat Trick Sleeve Line Hooded Long Sleeve T-Shirt