Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM MARCH 2026 29 2025 S P R I N G F O O T B A L L O V E R V I E W 2026 S P R I N G F O O T B A L L O V E R V I E W BY ERIC HANSEN I f there are going to be depth chart surprises on the offensive line this spring and into training camp, redshirt freshmen Matty Augustine and Will Black are likely going to be involved. Their small-sample size scores from Pro Football Focus film grades from a combined 82 game snaps were impressive, and amplified the whispers and off-the-record buzz that the two were creating on a regular basis with their more plenti- ful practice reps. Especially during the month of November. An even more pleasant surprise would be both extended health and a reliable timeline for when that might start for the highest-ceiling O-line piece among the 20 on the Irish roster, redshirt ju- nior Charles Jagusah. T h e 6 - fo o t -5, 3 2 5 - p o u n d e r — who would theoretically be Notre Dame's best option at every offensive line position but center, and maybe that — has been limited, by injuries, to just four reg- ular-season snaps and three mo- mentous postseason appearances in three years on campus. That, after playing most of his se- nior high school season in 2022 with ACL damage and a PCL so frayed that it essentially had to be replaced. When Jagusah comes back, where does he plug in? Left tackle? Right guard? Jagusah has All-America potential at both. Offensive line coach Joe Rudolph, who's had to become a Plan B expert with mul- tiple O-line injuries to starters the past two seasons, will have to craft multiple scenarios, not knowing exactly when he'll be able to test them. Starting center Ashton Craig, coming back from a September ACL tear, is on a timeline to re- turn in time to start the season — barring a setback. But he'll be a bystander in the spring. A l l o f wh i c h m ea n s spring won't likely lend itself to conclusions about who ends up where, beyond junior ANTHONIE KNAPP being a starter some- where — likely his old left tackle spot, and redshirt sopho- more Guerby Lambert sliding from right guard to a natural right tackle spot. If all the pieces come together, Notre Dame could field its most Joe Moore Award-worthy unit since retired O-line coaching icon Harry Hiestand's 2017 group actually won it. ✦ PHOTO BY MICHAEL MILLER OFFENSIVE LINEMEN PERSONNEL UPDATE Position Coach: Joe Rudolph (4th season) Returning Starters: C Ashton Craig (12 career starts), T Anthonie Knapp (27) and G/T Guerby Lambert (12) Projected New Starters: G Sullivan Absher (5) and G/T Charles Jagusah (2) Returning Reserves: T Matty Augustine, T Will Black, C Cam Herron, G Devan Houstan, G Pe- ter Jones, C Joe Otting, T Styles Prescod, T Owen Strebig and G Chris Terek Departing Players: G Billy Schrauth (22) and T Aamil Wagner (28) Transferred In: None Transferred Out: None Incoming Freshmen: C Sullivan Garvin, T Grayson McKeogh, G Tyler Merrill, G Ben Nichols, G Gregory Patrick and T Charlie Thom ALL EYES ON … REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE GUERBY LAMBERT The only thing that kept Notre Dame offensive line coach Joe Rudolph from at least dabbling with the possibility of Lambert competing for a start- ing tackle spot in 2025 was a spring shoulder injury that required surgery and an uncertain recovery timeline. Lambert ended up being an emergency 12-game starter at right guard instead. But Aamil Wagner opting to go chase the NFL dream opened up a vacancy at the 6-foot-7, 322-pound redshirt sophomore's highest-ceiling position for 2026, and he's expected to emerge as a star there. POSITION BATTLE TO WATCH TACKLING THE GUARD COMPETITION Redshirt freshman Will Black and redshirt junior Sul- livan Absher both came to Notre Dame fashioning them- selves as future left tackles. And while they both still possess that skill set, the clearest path to playing time is at one of the guard spots. Both bring massive size and power (6-7, 316 and 6-7, 325, respectively) as well as ath- leticism. Black's upside may be enough to offset Absher's experience (27 career snaps versus 423). NUMBERS TO KNOW 0 Offensive line transfers Notre Dame has taken in the five offseasons Marcus Free- man has been the head coach. There were zero transfers out among offensive linemen this off- season as well. 8th Was Notre Dame's national ranking in sacks allowed per game (1.1) at the end of the 2025 sea- son. That, after ranking 80th after three games. It's Notre Dame's highest finish nationally in that stat ranking since a No. 2 ranking in 2013, and up from 45th in the 2024 season. 81.4 Run-blocking grade — the best on the team — from Pro Football Focus for Matty Augustine during his freshman campaign in a small sample size. Running back and Heisman Trophy finalist Jeremiyah Love was No. 2 (80.2) and freshman offensive lineman Will Black No. 3 (79.0).