(Notre Dame) — Four of the five offensive line starters from Notre Dame’s final regular-season game last spring, so it would seem a lot would be status quo for that group.

But not on the team where one of the mottos is “challenge everything”.

Offensive line coach Joe Rudolph has moved some of the pieces around this spring, moving left guard Guerby Lambert to right tackle, sliding starting left tackle Anthonie Knapp to left guard and moving backup guard Will Black to left tackle. Instead of things looking out of place, all the puzzle pieces seem to fit just right.

“Guerby has a real comfort on the right side of the line,” explained Rudolph after Notre Dame’s seventh spring practice on Wednesday. “Knapper, we felt has done a great job playing left, but we thought to get each guy into the spot that would allow them to shine the most, would be to move Knapp in and create a good competition on the left tackle, which Will has done a great job.”

“What you don’t know is how the guys will embrace it,” continues Rudolph. “There’s a lot of differences. Anthonie has just embraced it. He wants to know the intricacies of the position, the differences.”

“The biggest difference is things happen quicker,” admits Knapp, who was highly successful as a tackle, starting there in the opening game of his freshman year. “When you’re that deep in the box, the linebackers, the leverages and shifts, they happen quick. I feel at tackle, you have a little bit more finesse. You have a little bit more time to see things and react. You’re in a two-point stance. You can look at the whole box. In a three-point, you have to keep your eyes up, because things shift. No defense is going to play straight up. This isn’t high school anymore.”

Black was in high school in Canada just two years ago, and played primarily guard last year, but has made the adjustment well.

“I don;t know I would say I’m more comfortable,” notes the 6-7, 316-pounder. “I would just say I can use my length and athleticism to my advantage. Playing guard helped me play tackle and be a better run blocker. Going from guard to tackle is a lot different in the pass game. You have a lot more space, a lot more time and you have to be more patient with you hands.

Black certainly has earned the admiration of his teammates.

“Will Black’s ceiling is whatever Will Black wants his ceiling to be,” lauds guard Sullivan Absher. “He’s an incredibly gifted natural athlete. He’s got an incredible work ethic. He’s smart, he’s well-spoken, he studies in the film room.”

“This group of kids, they’re amazing” exults Rudolph. “To see these guys work through injuries, and issues and find solutions together, helping each other, is something I’m just proud to be a part of, because it’s something special.”