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Notre Dame all-American Mike McGlinchey to savor his final season

Despite receiving a first-round draft grade from the NFL, McGlinchey decided to return for a final season at Notre Dame

Fighting Irish offensive lineman and Penn Charter grad Mike McGlinchey looks on during the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Blue-Gold Spring Game on April 22, 2017, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN.
Fighting Irish offensive lineman and Penn Charter grad Mike McGlinchey looks on during the Notre Dame Fighting Irish Blue-Gold Spring Game on April 22, 2017, at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend, IN.Read moreROBIN ALAM / AP
    by Marc Narducci | Columnist
    Published 

Notre Dame tackle Mike McGlinchey earned a favorable opinion from the NFL, but it couldn't convince him to leave school.

After last season, one in which the 6-foot-8, 315-pound McGlinchey received numerous honors including Associated Press second-team all-American, he received a first-round grade in an evaluation from the NFL.

Despite the glowing report, McGlinchey decided to bypass the draft and return for a final season at Notre Dame. He made his decision for one reason. "I didn't feel I was ready for the NFL," McGlinchey said in a recent phone interview. "I have a lot of room for improvement and should do that before trying to make a career out of it."

McGlinchey earned the extra season since he didn't play as a freshman in 2013.

He said he didn't really anguish over the decision.

"No, not really at all," said McGlinchey, a starting left tackle last season after starting at right tackle in 2015. "It was tough and obviously there are risks in passing that up. But it was a smart decision for me, and I am happy I made it."

He will begin his final college season when Notre Dame hosts Temple on Saturday.

A native of Warrington, McGlinchey is a product of Penn Charter, and he said he enjoyed attending the Inter-Ac school.

"Penn Charter was an awesome school with great coaches, teachers, and classmates," he said.

McGlinchey is not the most famous athlete from his high school or even in his family. His cousin is Matt Ryan, another pretty good performer at Penn Charter, more known as the quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons. McGlinchey's mother and Ryan's mother are sisters.

McGlinchey says Ryan has been a wealth of information when talking about the next level.

"He has talked to me about the NFL, tells me what to expect, how he handled things when they came his way," McGlinchey said. "He has been great since eighth grade, helping me going into high school and into college, and I am sure he will help when it's my time for the NFL."

McGlinchey has started 26 consecutive games and appeared in 38 career games, but one stands out among them all – Notre Dame's 24-20 win over Temple at Lincoln Financial Field on Halloween night 2015.

That was played before a sellout crowd, and both teams were nationally ranked. Notre Dame took a 6-1 record into the game, and Temple was 7-0.

"That was my favorite game of my career" he said. "It was great for the city and Temple, and I had so many people I grew up with and my family in the stands."

He then added, "I got to play in the stadium I grew up watching my favorite team, and it was surreal."

That favorite team was the Eagles. McGlinchey made it known that now he roots for the Falcons first but still has an affinity for the Eagles.

He has earned his undergraduate degree in film and TV and is now back for one more go. McGlinchey is hoping to spark an Irish turnaround after a 4-8 season. There are no second thoughts about his decision to return to Notre Dame.

"I have been so fortunate to play here, the golden dome, the tunnel. Everything takes your breath away," he said. "It gives you chills every single week whether you are freshman or 30-game starter, and I feel I am so lucky to be competing for Notre Dame."