SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Senior guard Sullivan Absher has been named the Outland Trophy National Player of the Week following his performance up front in Notre Dame’s 35-13 win over Navy. The Outland Trophy honors college football’s most outstanding lineman. The honor marks the first such national weekly award of Absher’s career.
Absher was dominant up front, imposing his will as he and the Irish offensive line paved the way for 204 rushing yards and three touchdowns on just 29 carries, averaging 7.0 yards per attempt. Absher had an 89.0 run block grade according to PFF, the highest run block grade among all offensive linemen during Week 9.
Absher and the offensive line were equally impressive in pass protection, keeping quarterback CJ Carr clean throughout the game as he threw for 210 yards and two touchdowns. The Irish did not surrender a sack in Saturday’s victory, and have allowed just two sacks all season, the fewest in the FBS. The unit helped power an offensive effort that totaled 426 yards and closed the game with 28 unanswered points.
The Irish are back at Notre Dame Stadium Saturday night for a 7:30 p.m. ET matchup against No. 1 Miami on NBC.