​Everyone loves player comparisons, right? Let’s break down some of Notre Dame’s 2027 offensive line commits and their play styles.Notre Dame football recruiting for the 2027 class is nearly complete, and head coach Marcus Freeman has assembled a talented group of offensive linemen.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith the Fighting Irish waiting on top-150 defensive tackle Brayden Parks to choose between Notre Dame and Oregon, the class is close to being solidified. That makes this the perfect time to break down the five offensive line commits with NFL and college player comparisons based on body type, play style, and movement skills.One important note before diving in: these are play style comparisons, not predictions of success. I do not have a crystal ball to see how development goes for each of these players. But when I watch the film, there are traits that stand out and remind me of players we’ve seen at the college and professional level.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementPlayer comparison: Logan Mankins (retired)The St. Charles, Louisiana, product out of Sam Houston High School is listed between 6-3 and 6-4, weighing 285 to 295 pounds. Simien is a high school left tackle who most projects to play inside at guard on the next level. I agree that his highest upside is at guard, but he does have enough movement skills and length to play offensive tackle at the college level. I’m not completely writing that off.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementWith Notre Dame already holding commits from other top offensive tackles in this class, there’s a clear path for Simien to develop into a potential All-American guard. When I watch him, I see former New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers guard Logan Mankins. Mankins was a college left tackle at Fresno State who transitioned inside at the NFL level. At around 6-4 and 305 to 310 pounds during his career, Mankins was a dominant run blocker and one of the best pass-protecting interior linemen of his generation. There just weren’t many holes in his game.Simien has that same quality. Even though guard is perceived as the less important position up front, I could see him becoming the backbone of an offensive line before too long. This kid has truly special traits and special upside on the interior.Player comparison: Charles Cross (Seattle Seahawks)The St. Peter’s Prep product out of Jersey City, New Jersey, is a true left tackle prototype at 6-6 and 290-plus pounds with incredibly long arms and impressive movement skills. I do question whether he might be closer to 275 to 280 right now, but either way, he’s built to add a ton of weight on the next level.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHis game reminds me of Charles Cross when he was at Mississippi State. Cross has developed into a strong left tackle for the Seattle Seahawks. He was a skinnier player heading into his final college season, but even at a lighter weight, he had impressive core strength and outstanding tra