Billy Schrauth Earns All-American Honors After Dominant Seven-Game Stretch for Notre Dame
Even with his season cut short by injury, Billy Schrauth made enough noise in seven games to earn a spot on the AFCA Second Team All-America list - and if you watched him play this fall, you know exactly why.
Before a knee injury sidelined him for the final five games of the regular season, Schrauth was playing the best football of his career. The Notre Dame guard was a tone-setter up front, combining elite pass protection with a newfound edge in the run game.
His performance against USC - the game where he ultimately got hurt - was arguably his most complete showing. He was flat-out punishing defenders in the trenches and stonewalling pass rushers like a veteran.
It was the kind of performance that sticks with voters, and clearly, it did.
According to Pro Football Focus, Schrauth allowed just two pressures in his seven games - neither of which led to a quarterback hit or sack. That’s not just clean pass protection; that’s dominance.
And when you zoom out, the consistency is even more impressive. Over the last two seasons, Schrauth has given up just 10 pressures and one sack across 19 games.
From the moment he stepped into the starting lineup, he’s been a wall in pass pro.
But what really elevated Schrauth’s game in 2025 was his development as a run blocker. He wasn’t just holding his own - he was creating movement at the line of scrimmage, regularly opening lanes and driving defenders off the ball.
His improved consistency, especially in limiting missed assignments, helped solidify the left side of Notre Dame’s offensive line. Alongside fellow lineman Anthonie Knapp, Schrauth helped make that side of the line a go-to area in the Irish ground attack.
And the numbers back it up. In the 22 games Schrauth has started, Notre Dame has averaged 205.8 rushing yards per game and 5.6 yards per carry.
That’s not just solid - that’s the foundation of a top-tier rushing offense. All of Schrauth’s starts in 2025 came at left guard, but he’s shown versatility throughout his career, having started at both guard spots.
Schrauth’s journey to South Bend started as a high-profile recruiting win for Notre Dame. A Top 100 prospect out of Wisconsin, he committed shortly after Marcus Freeman took over as head coach, choosing the Irish over Big Ten powers like Ohio State and Michigan. He broke into the rotation late in 2023 and earned a full-time role in 2024, steadily growing into one of the most reliable linemen on the team.
And while Schrauth landed on the second team, he wasn’t the only Irish player recognized. Running back Jeremiyah Love and cornerback Leonard Moore both earned first-team All-America honors, capping off a strong showing for Notre Dame on the AFCA list.
For Schrauth, the All-American nod is a testament to the kind of impact you can make in limited time when you play at an elite level. Seven games were all he needed.