Notre Dame OG Quenton Nelson, OT Mike McGlinchey named AP All-Americans

Expectations are high on the left side of Notre Dame's offensive line.

Senior left guard Quenton Nelson was named a first team Associated Press preseason All-American on Tuesday, while graduate student Mike McGlinchey was named to the second team.

Nelson — a 6-foot-5, 330-pound senior — has started 23 games in his Irish career, including all 12 last season. The Holmdel, N.J., native allowed just one quarterback hit and zero sacks in 439 pass block snaps last season. He has surrendered just three sacks and three quarterback hits in 850 pass block snaps thus far in his career.

McGlinchey — a 6-8, 315-pound graduate student — has started 26 consecutive games, splitting time between right tackle and left tackle. The two-time Irish captain has allowed just three sacks and four quarterback hits over 974 career pass block snaps.

Nelson and McGlinchey are the only set of teammates from the same offensive position group to be named preseason AP first- or second-team All-American.