Assessing Notre Dame's position in replacing Charles Jagusah following his injury

Notre Dame Fighting Irish football preview | Expectations for the entire 2024 season | 08/19/24

Second semester Charles Jagusah should start as Left Tackle for Notre-Dame in the 2024 season. However, after an injury to his right shoulder and a torn muscle in the chest area, Jagusah will miss the entire 2024 season. In a conversation with Andy Staples from On3Blue and Gold's Tyler Horka revealed how Notre Dame's offensive line will adjust to Jagusah's absence.

“As soon as Charles Jagusah went under, it was assumed that Tosh Bakerthe elder statesman in this offensive line at Notre Dame – he is a fifth-year senior – would get the nod,” Horka said. “He fought Amil Wagner at the right tackle position. They ended up moving Tosh Baker there, just like we expected.

“Joe Rudolphthe offensive line coach, even said, “Yeah, I think he's the answer.” Well, the next time we saw practice, about five days later, Anthony Knappa true freshman, took over the role of left tackle of the first team, and actually a sophomore, Sam Pendletonhas taken over a few older players as left guard of the first team who started a total of 23 games last season … The left side of the offensive line looks very young at the moment.”

Knapp is a true freshman and was a four-star prospect in the 2024 recruiting cycle. the On3 industry rankingPendleton doesn't have much more experience to his name. The former four-star recruit only played in two games last season.

Horka, however, is not particularly concerned. He even claims that despite his talent, Jagusah did not have much more experience than Knapp or Pendleton.

“I have to remind people that Charles Jagusah, a highly rated big guy – he looks like a tackle at this level and maybe even the next – yet he only started one game in college football,” Horka said. “So when you say, 'Holy cow, we could have Anthonie Knapp starting at Kyle Field in College Station in front of 100,000 people and that's that kid's first college football game.'

“Charles Jagusah has only played in one, actually, and that was the Sun Bowl against Oregon State. And of course bowl games don't mean much these days if you're not in the College Football Playoff. So it's all about the youth movement around the Notre Dame offensive line.”

Notre Dame's offensive line has big shoes to fill. In the 2023 season, the Fighting Irish's front five allowed just 16 sacks, tied with the 19th place in the countryBecause of his achievements, Notre Dame was a finalist for the Joe Moore Award, which is given annually to the best offensive line in the country.

Notre Dame takes over Texas A&M in its season opener on August 31 at 7:30 p.m. ET. The game will be broadcast on ABC.