Could Notre Dame's Offensive Line Be the Best in the Country?
- Noah Wehby
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
Notre Dame has built an offensive line that rivals anyone's in the country, but with another off-season injury to Charles Jagusah, the depth will have to be tested once more.
Photo by The Irish Tribune
The offensive line has undergone significant change over the past year. To start, it was just last summer that news broke that Jagusah was likely to miss the entirety of the 2024 season due to a torn pectoral. That immediately put the whole line into question, as it was not seen as a deep group before the year started. Then, Marcus Freeman chose to favor talent over experience to start the year against Texas A&M. That meant freshman Anthonie Knapp was starting at left tackle, along with guys like Aamil Wagner and other players with little experience. This starting lineup played well to start the year, but injuries began to take their toll. Ashton Craig suffered a torn ACL, and Billy Schrauth sprained his ankle in the same game. This left Notre Dame to revert to players like Rocco Spindler and Pat Coogan, players who were the most experienced. Notre Dame did not skip a beat, however, as that offensive line unit took them to the National Championship with some late help from Jagusah. The changes didn't stop there, though. After the season, Coogan, Spindler, Sam Pendleton, and Ty Chan all decided to hit the portal. A decision likely made due to their playing time being at risk once the original starters returned to full strength. Now, the offensive line will have to adapt once again, as Jagusah will likely miss a chunk of the season after an accident during the 4th of July. With that being said, it is Notre Dame's depth that could prove once again why this team is as talented as anyone in the country.
Even with Jagusah missing time, the starting offensive line is a really strong group. Knapp proved himself as a reliable left tackle as just a freshman, so year two should be more of the same and maybe even better. Although a little short for the position, he uses his leverage and footwork to be good in the run game and solid in the passing game. Younger talent, including Will Black, a highly touted incoming freshman, could be a dark horse for the position, or may find himself thrust into a starting role at the tackle position if injuries pile up.
The position of right guard is now up in the air because of the Jagusah injury. Luckily for Notre Dame, they have options for his replacement. One option would be Sullivan Absher. Absher does have in-game experience from the 2024 season and would be a safe option, albeit he projects better on the left side of the line. He started his career as a tackle, but due to his struggles in pass protection, he was moved to guard. At 6'8", Absher is a big, physical force that would be useful to have on the inside of the line. Another option would be Chris Terek, a 6'6" sophomore with little experience, but more comfort on the right side of the line. Redshirt sophomore Joe Otting has served as a backup guard for a couple of years and possesses all the size and athleticism to be effective as a starter.
At center, Ashton Craig will be returning from a torn ACL against Purdue that ended his season. Before the injury, Craig was excelling at the position, but his ACL surgery could mean some setbacks. Craig is tough, physical, and has great feet that allow him to create space for Notre Dame's explosive running backs to find open field. If Craig's injury is still a problem, this is also where you could see Otting fill in.
There should not be any change for Notre Dame at left guard with the return of Billy Schrauth. Schrauth was an integral part of Notre Dame's offensive line last year. At guard, he was able to open running lanes for Love, whether that was just moving his defender or pulling to a side to block a defender out in space. Schrauth was also solid in pass protection, which will be critical for Notre Dame's young quarterback.
Lastly, Aamil Wagner will also be returning to start at right tackle once again. Wagner was a bright spot on Notre Dame's offense last year and a bit of a surprise. He was an unknown commodity going into last season, and left it as one of the best returning tackles in the country. Still young, Wagner should be a staple of Notre Dame's offensive line for the next few years, and maybe one of Notre Dame's next linemen to make it to the NFL. Behind him is Guerby Lambert, a redshirt freshman looking to get his feet wet. Like Will Black, Lambert was a highly touted prospect who possesses all the physical tools to succeed on the outside, and some meaningful experience would go a long way.
This 2025 offensive line is coming in with a lot of expectations. They all played on last year's team and are now expected to be better. Injuries have already begun to take their toll, but it is depth that makes this unit so strong. They have quality options for every position, with excellent talent still waiting on the bench. This line will also have the best running back in the country running behind it, a dangerous combination for opponents. They will, however, have to block for an inexperienced quarterback who will surely need all the time they can give him. All in all, if they live up to the hype, this line will be the best in the country and have Notre Dame in a position to win every game on their schedule.
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