We’re just making our way into the offensive line part of this countdown and yesterday for day 79 we highlighted a bust in Tony Mandarich but for day 78, we get to look at a guy who played great in college at Notre Dame and is currently anchoring the Baltimore Ravens offensive line and paving lanes for Lamar Jackson.
Ronnie Stanley came out of Bishop Gorman High, a powerhouse high school in Nevada, and landed in South Bend, Indiana to play for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. As a freshman in 2012, Stanley only saw time in two games.
The next season was a big one as he started all thirteen games at right tackle. Stanley was a contributor on the Irish offensive line that only allowed eight sacks and was tied for second in the FBS in sacks allowed.
As a junior, Stanley flipped to left tackle replacing Zack Martin who is an All Pro guard for Dallas. That same year he only allowed one sack. After this season, Stanley thought long and hard about entering the 2015 NFL Draft but ultimately decided to stick around and wear the golden dome for one more year.
Stanley had another elite season as a left tackle making the 2015 All American team. After the season concluded, Stanley entered the 2016 NFL Draft and was selected sixth overall by the Baltimore Ravens. Since then he’s made one Pro Bowl and one All Pro team, helping to prove why Notre Dame is OlineU.
Tomorrow for day 77, we take a look at not one, but two players who excelled along the offensive line in college.