Notre Dame will have a new starting left tackle for the first time this season in the national championship game.
With true freshman Anthonie Knapp ruled out against Ohio State due to a high ankle sprain he suffered against Penn State in the College Football Playoff semifinals, redshirt freshman Charles Jagusah is expected to start at left tackle for the Fighting Irish on Monday night.
Notre Dame is expected to start redshirt freshman Charles Jagusah at left tackle in the national title game, per Marcus Freeman. It'll be his first start of the season and second overall start. Freeman said Jagusah has been playing primarily LT in practice. pic.twitter.com/9wLwGJIJwL
— Pete Thamel (@PeteThamel) January 18, 2025
On Wednesday, ESPN's Molly McGrath reported that Jagusah told her that he will start at left tackle against Ohio State.
Expected to be Notre Dame's starting left tackle leading into 2024, those plans were altered when Jagusah suffered a pectoral muscle injury during preseason camp in early August, which was expected to be a season-ending injury. He was able to return for Notre Dame's CFP run.
The 6-foot-7, 328-pounder played on special teams in the quarterfinals against Georgia and then on both offense and special teams in the CFP semifinals, as he replaced Spindler – who also suffered an ankle injury – at right guard in the Orange Bowl. With Spindler returning for the national championship game, Jagusah will move back to left tackle, his original position before several different injuries.
“It was a goal of mine to get back by the end of the year, at least, kind of right when I had that injury,” Jagusah said after Notre Dame beat Penn State. “But for me, it was just special, because my team did so much to get there and just to be able to add to what they did was a great feeling for me.”
Jagusah appeared in two games (both at left tackle) in 2023, including starting Notre Dame's season-finale in the Sun Bowl.
Although this will only be the second start of Jagusah's career, he's prepared to make an impact at left tackle on the biggest stage.
“Whether I start or whether I don’t, it’s about preparation,” Jagusah said leading up to the national championship. “We’re gonna keep preparing. We still got a couple days to prepare. So for me, it’s just continuing to prepare, continuing to get your mind in the right spot you need to be in for the game. And then once it’s time to go, just no fear, let it fly.”