Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/1534445
BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM MAY 2025 19 'THE BEST PLAN' Whichever quarterback starts the season opener will be staring at num- bers on the backsides of his offensive linemen's jerseys that are much dif- ferent than the ones he got used to in spring practices. Out of physical neces- sity, Notre Dame's spring ball offensive line concoctions were the equivalent of a hastily prepared arts and crafts project put together with supplies secured from the clearance aisle. Maybe not that much of a crapshoot, but it was close. For example, the only projected starter who participated in the spring scrim- mage that took place the Saturday before the Blue-Gold Game was junior guard Charles Jagusah — and even he rolled his ankle in the middle of it. Hence, "out of physical necessity." After a 16-game season, Notre Dame's offensive linemen needed some time away from the field and more time in the weight room for maintenance this spring. "We played a lot of football," Notre Dame offensive line coach Joe Rudolph said. "Normal year you play a bowl game and then in spring ball you have 15 practices. This year we played a bowl game and then we had 21 more practices and three games. "If we're going to be better on the of- fensive line, guys gotta get stronger and continue to develop. Some of the guys are getting an opportunity to do that, and they'll practice, but we're not rushing to fly everybody back on the field and miss that opportunity of physical growth." Sophomore Anthonie Knapp and se- nior Aamil Wagner combined for 31 starts in 2024. They were two of the projected 2025 starters who weren't on the field in a full capacity this spring. Senior guard Billy Schrauth, like Knapp, has a nagging ankle injury he nursed this spring as well. Senior center Ashton Craig is still recov- ering from his knee injury. Those five might very well be Notre Dame's season-opening starters. And if they are, they'll look back on the Three quarterbacks — (left to right) senior Steve Angeli, junior Kenny Minchey and sophomore CJ Carr — all remain in the running for the starting role when Notre Dame opens the 2025 campaign at Miami Aug. 31. PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER