SOUTH BEND — Injuries have created a revolving door along the Notre Dame football offensive line over the past few years, but there’s been no drop-off in quality.
This summer’s setback was a broken humerus in the left arm of projected starting right guard Charles Jagusah. His timeline remains undefined with fall camp set to open, but the door is ajar for third-year reserve Sullivan Absher to fill the void.
Ashton Craig was on track to reclaim his first-team center status after missing all but the first 10 quarters of last season with an ACL tear in his left knee.
Billy Schrauth, slated to start at left guard this season, missed four games last year following TightRope surgery on his right ankle/foot. He sat out the bulk of spring practice after a left ankle cleanup procedure in the offseason.
Anthonie Knapp, who started the first 15 games of his freshman season at left tackle, should return after a TightRope procedure on his ankle/foot.
Knapp seems entrenched for now, although the Irish have no shortage of towering prospects with tackle capability. Among them: Jagusah, Guerby Lambert, June enrollee Will Black, midyear enrollees Owen Strebig and Matty Augustine; and second-year man Styles Prescod.
“(Knapp) was pretty unique,” offensive line coach Joe Rudolph said. “Coming in I thought maybe he would factor in more at the internal positions like center or guard. He just was so natural playing out there (at tackle) and he’s got really good length. He gave us some strength and power and consistency out there.”
Right tackle Aamil Wagner went the distance in his first year as a starter. He mostly took mental reps during spring ball after lining up for 1,072 snaps last season, including 101 on special teams.
“Nobody has that many reps,” Rudolph said. “I don’t know if anybody has ever had (so many) reps in the history of college football.”
Depth chart
54 | LT | Anthonie Knapp | 6-4, 296 | Fr. (4L)-&
74 | LG | Billy Schrauth | 6-4, 305 | R-So. (3L)
70 | C | Ashton Craig | 6-5, 311 | R-Jr. (2L)
75 | RG | Sullivan Absher | 6-8, 328 | R-So. (3L)
59 | RT | Aamil Wagner | 6-6, 290 | R-So. (3L)
56 | LT | Charles Jagusah | 6-7, 333 | R-So. (3L) – Injured
76 | OT | Guerby Lambert | 6-7, 341 | R-Fr. (4L)
65 | OT | Will Black | 6-7, 305 | Fr. (4L)
71 | OT | Styles Prescod | 6-6, 292 | R-Fr. (4L)
58 | OT | Matty Augustine | 6-7, 295 | Fr. (4L)
68 | OT | Owen Strebig | 6-8, 294 | Fr. (4L)
64 | C| Joe Otting | 6-4, 312 | R-Fr. (4L)
57 | OL | Cam Herron | 6-2, 277 | Fr. (4L)
55 | OL | Chris Terek | 6-6, 320 | R-So. (3L)
77 | OL | Peter Jones | 6-5, 312 | R-Fr. (4L)
52 | OL | Devan Houstan | 6-4, 304 | R.-So. (3L)
&: Denotes remaining eligibility years
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Notre Dame football position preview: Depth matters for talented offensive line
Reporting by Mike Berardino, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
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