No. 7 seed Notre Dame is shorthanded on both sides of the ball as it prepares to face No. 8 Ohio State on Monday night. In their 27-17 first-round CFP victory over Indiana, the Fighting Irish lost Rylie Mills, their finest defensive lineman. Jordan Botelho and Boubacar Traore, both pass rushers, suffered season-ending injuries during the regular season.
Anthonie Knapp, a true freshman, was ruled out against Ohio State after suffering a high-ankle sprain in the Capital One Orange Bowl versus Penn State. Right guard Rocco Spindler also had an ankle injury versus PSU. Charles Jagusah was scheduled to start as the Irish’s left tackle before suffering a pectoral injury in August. His injury was first considered to be season-ending, but the lengthy CFP run allowed the coaching staff to substitute him for Spindler against Penn State.
Notre Dame has a critical decision to make at left tackle for the CFP national championship. The Fighting Irish might go with Tosh Baker, who replaced Knapp in the CFP semifinals, or Jagusah.
According to ESPN’s Pete Thamel, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman expects Jagusah to start at left tackle against Ohio State’s hefty front seven. “Notre Dame is expected to start redshirt freshman Charles Jagusah at left tackle in the national title game, per Marcus Freeman,” Thamel told X. “He’ll make his first start of the season and second overall. According to Freeman, Jagusah has largely played LT in practice.
According to Tyler Horka of On3 Sports, Jagusah started at left tackle for the Irish during Saturday’s practice. Spindler was getting reps at right tackle. Baker was an extra, playing the position of tight end. “Charles Jagusah with the first team Notre Dame offensive line at practice today,” Horka shared with X. “For this rep, Tosh Baker will play tight end alongside him. ND offensive line starters, from left to right: Jagusah, Billy Schrauth, Pat Coogan, Rocco Spindler, and Aamil Wagner.
Jagusah outperformed Baker versus Penn State, despite playing in a different position. Jagusah’s work helped the Irish’s running offense in the second half of the Orange Bowl.
