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According to a confirmed report on Blue & Gold Illustrated, Notre Dame Fighting Irish offensive lineman John Dirksen has made the decision to end his playing career moving forward. He won’t seek a transfer elsewhere.
#NotreDame OL John Dirksen is not listed on the updated spring roster and has ended his playing career with the Irish. @PatrickEngel_’s story: https://t.co/i0bwAN4uhw pic.twitter.com/jp93UJ2SNS
— BlueandGold.com (@BGInews) January 28, 2022
The new spring roster for Notre Dame football on und.com did not have Dirksen listed as a member of the team.
Unlike most college football players, Dirksen is a married family man and is probably ready to move on with his life and his professionally career with a Notre Dame degree in hand.
Dirksen was part of the 2018 recruiting class — and ironically enough — was a Harry Hiestand recruit during the legendary OL coach’s first tenure with the Irish. Dirksen played mostly on special teams during his time in South Bend, and was presented with an opportunity in the spring of 2021 to become a starter — or at least a rotational contributor. That all changed with a combination of a surge by some younger players at guard and the transfer in by Cain Madden.
Notre Dame’s offensive line in 2022 likely holds less opportunity for a guy like Dirksen. With the emergence of Blake Fisher and Joe Alt at tackle, we should probably expect a move to guard for Josh Lugg (speculation still at this point). Notre Dame is solid at center with Jarrett Patterson, and then the other guards are returning starter Andrew Kristofic, and blue-chip rising sophomore Rocco Spindler.
2022 Notre Dame Football Scholarship Chart
| Position / Year | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 5th/6th Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position / Year | Freshmen | Sophomore | Junior | Senior | 5th/6th Year |
| Quarterback | Steve Angeli | Tyler Buchner, Ron Powlus III | Drew Pyne | - | - |
| Running Back | Jadarian Price, Gi'Bran Payne | Logan Diggs, Audric Estime | Chris Tyree | - | - |
| Tight End | Eli Raridon, Holden Staes | Cane Berrong, Mitchell Evans | Michael Mayer, Kevin Bauman | - | - |
| Wide Receiver | Tobias Merriweather | Lorenzo Styles, Deion Colzie, Jayden Thomas | - | - | Braden Lenzy, Joe Wilkins, Avery Davis, Matt Salerno |
| Center | Ashton Craig | Pat Coogan | - | Zeke Correll | Jarrett Patterson |
| Guard | Billy Schrauth | Rocco Spindler | - | Andrew Kristofic, | Josh Lugg |
| Tackle | Joey Tanona, Ty Chan, Aamil Wagner | Blake Fisher, Joe Alt, Caleb Johnson | Michael Carmody, Tosh Baker | - | - |
| Defensive Tackle | Donovan Hinish, Tyson Ford | Gabriel Rubio | Aidan Keanaaina, Rylie Mills | Howard Cross, Jacob Lacey | Jayson Ademilola, Chris Smith |
| Defensive End | Aiden Gobaira | Jason Onye, Will Schweitzer | Alexander Ehrensberger, Jordan Botelho | NaNa Osafo-Mensah, Isaiah Foskey, Osita Ekwonu | Justin Ademilola |
| Linebacker | Nolan Ziegler, Joshua Burnham, Junior Tuihalamaka, Jaylen Sneed | Prince Kollie | - | Jack Kiser, Marist Liufau, JD Bertrand | Bo Bauer |
| Safety | Jayden Bellamy | Justin Walters | Xavier Watts, Ramon Henderson, Brandon Joesph | - | D.J. Brown, Houston Griffith |
| Cornerback | Jayden Mickey, Benjamin Morrison | Ryan Barnes, Chance Tucker, Philip Riley | Clarence Lewis | Cam Hart | TaRiq Bracy |
| Specialists | Bryce McFerson (P) | Josh Bryan (K) | Alex Peitsch (LS) | - | Michael Vinson (LS), Blake Grupe (K) |
| Totals | 22/85 (22) | 45/85 (23) | 60/85 (15) | 71/85 (11) | 86/85 (15) |
Good luck to John (team HASHTAG OHIO FOREVER) in all his future endeavors.