How Will Notre Dame Football Adjust Without Charles Jagusah? Offensive Line Faces Big Test as Irish Tweak Game Plan

When Notre Dame opens fall camp in earnest, one question looms larger than any other in South Bend—how do the Irish recalibrate their offensive line without Charles Jagusah?

Jagusah, the former five-star prospect and likely starter at left tackle, has been ruled out indefinitely with an injury that could linger deep into the 2025 season. While the Irish staff hasn’t disclosed the full nature of the setback, sources suggest it’s significant enough that Notre Dame must prepare to move forward without him, at least for the early portion of the schedule. That presents a significant test of depth, development, and offensive identity for a team with College Football Playoff hopes riding high.

Jagusah, a mountain of a man at 6-foot-6 and 322 pounds, was expected to anchor the left side after serving as a key rotational piece last season. He was poised to be Notre Dame’s next great offensive line stalwart in a program historically known for producing NFL-caliber linemen—from Zack Martin and Quenton Nelson to Mike McGlinchey and Ronnie Stanley. The coaching staff, especially new offensive line coach Joe Rudolph, had raved about Jagusah’s power in the run game and improving footwork in pass protection during the spring.

But now, all that optimism must be reshuffled. The Irish aren’t just replacing a body—they’re replacing an identity. Jagusah wasn’t just penciled in as a starter; he was expected to set the tone.

So where does Notre Dame go from here?

The initial solution seems to be sliding Tosh Baker into the left tackle spot. A redshirt senior and former blue-chip recruit himself, Baker has seen plenty of action in recent seasons, including several spot starts. He has the length and experience, but consistency has always been his Achilles’ heel. The staff believes that with one final season and the benefit of a full summer of first-team reps, Baker can finally emerge as the steady hand they need.

But Baker’s elevation causes a chain reaction. If he moves to the blindside, it opens a competition at right tackle, where Aamil Wagner and freshman phenom Guerby Lambert will likely duke it out. Wagner has bulked up and added polish, while Lambert arrived on campus with rare athleticism and a five-star pedigree. Could the staff throw the freshman into the fire immediately? It wouldn’t be the first time Notre Dame leaned on a young offensive lineman, but the margin for error is razor thin with a front-loaded schedule.

The coaching staff could also consider reshuffling the interior, depending on how confident they are in their top seven linemen. Veteran Zeke Correll remains a rock at center, but the guard spots could see some movement. Rocco Spindler and Billy Schrauth have the size to kick outside in a pinch, especially if someone like Pat Coogan proves more reliable inside. Still, the preference is to minimize disruption—move one piece, not three.

No matter what direction the staff chooses, there’s no denying the challenge. The offensive line is about cohesion, trust, and rhythm. Every rep with Jagusah this spring was building toward a unit that now must redefine itself on the fly. And it comes at a critical time in Notre Dame’s evolution under head coach Marcus Freeman.

This season was supposed to be the year everything aligned—elite quarterback play, dynamic weapons, a veteran defense, and a punishing offensive line. That last element is now a question mark instead of a certainty. And with a Week 2 trip to College Station to face Texas A&M’s fearsome front, there’s little time to ease into a new look.

The good news? The Irish have recruited well up front. They’ve stacked blue-chip classes and developed depth with intention. Players like Baker, Wagner, and Schrauth have been groomed for this very moment. Joe Alt’s early departure to the NFL left a void, but the expectation was that Jagusah would fill it. Now the question becomes whether this unit can rally without its star—and whether they can protect Duke transfer quarterback Riley Leonard, who isn’t exactly known for being a statue in the pocket but still needs clean windows to operate effectively.

Leonard’s mobility could actually be part of the solution. Look for Notre Dame to incorporate more designed rollouts, quick-game throws, and RPO concepts that get the ball out fast and neutralize elite pass rushers. Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock has experience tailoring game plans to personnel. When he coached at Cincinnati and LSU, he showed an ability to scheme around offensive line issues. Expect the same creativity in South Bend.

Still, the run game remains the identity. Audric Estimé may be gone, but Jadarian Price and Jeremiyah Love form a dynamic one-two punch with different styles and explosive upside. Both backs can stretch the edges and hit cutback lanes, but they’ll need consistent push up front to keep the offense ahead of the chains. If defenses sense weakness at tackle and start crashing the edges, it could bog down the entire scheme.

And that’s what makes Jagusah’s absence so critical—not just in terms of his individual talent, but what it forces Notre Dame to become. This was supposed to be the year the Irish bullied opponents again. Instead, they may have to win more games with finesse, tempo, and misdirection.

But maybe that’s not a bad thing.

This is, after all, the modern game. Gone are the days of five straight double teams and slow, methodical drives. Notre Dame’s offense has more speed and flexibility than it has in years. Leonard is a dual-threat. Jayden Thomas is a YAC machine. Jaden Greathouse and Rico Flores can beat you vertically or in space. Add in a breakout tight end like Eli Raridon or Holden Staes, and the Irish have plenty of ways to attack.

Still, football remains a line-of-scrimmage game. You can’t finesse your way through four quarters against Georgia, Michigan, or even USC without holding up up front. If Notre Dame wants to break through the CFP glass ceiling, the offensive line must become a strength again, regardless of who’s suiting up at left tackle.

In many ways, this is Marcus Freeman’s latest culture test. How does a team respond when a key figure goes down? How does it pivot, adjust, and grow into something new without abandoning its identity? Notre Dame has the pieces. Now it must solve the puzzle in real time.

Jagusah’s absence is a blow, but it’s not a backbreaker. It’s an opportunity—for Baker to finally meet his potential, for Wagner or Lambert to seize the spotlight, and for the coaching staff to show they can build a front five capable of protecting Leonard and paving the way to the Playoff.

Notre Dame’s margin for error just got a little thinner. But its belief in the next-man-up philosophy has never wavered. Charles Jagusah may be out, but the Fighting Irish offensive line still has a fight to win.