Notre Dame heads into the 2026 CFB season with some injury questions on the offensive line. What will that unit ultimately look like?
The Notre Dame offensive line enters fall camp with a significant cloud hanging over it, at least momentarily, but not for long.
The Fighting Irish made it official last week that there is no foreseeable timetable for the return of offensive lineman Charles Jagusah , the 6-foot-7, 330-pound former five-star recruit whose career has been derailed by injury. Without a clear timeline for Jagusah's return after nerve damage stemming from a humerus injury suffered in a UTV accident, head coach Marcus Freeman and offensive line coach Joe Rudolph must build their 2026 front five without him.
For a Notre Dame team with championship aspirations, the depth chart decisions along the offensive line will be one of the most important storylines when fall camp opens on August 4.
Here is my early prediction for what the starting five will look like.
The redshirt freshman gets the nod at left tackle. The 6-foot-7, 316-pound former five-star recruit from the 2025 class was brought along slowly during his first season, but the jump he made during and after that year has this staff extremely high on his future at the blindside protector spot.
Behind him, redshirt sophomore Styles Prescod figures to be the primary backup, though I imagine Notre Dame would flex Anthonie Knapp out to left tackle if Black went down.
Knapp started two years at left tackle for Notre Dame, originally stepping in because of Jagusah's injury before the 2024 season. The move inside to left guard should be his best long-term fit.
The things you love about Knapp are the physicality and explosiveness he showcases in the run game. Inside, his occasional pass protection struggles should be mitigated by the ability to short set far more frequently than he could on the edge. There's legitimate 2027 NFL Draft buzz around the 6-foot-4, 305-pound lineman, and he should have a huge season for the Irish.
Behind him, a combination of Devan Houstan and Chris Terek figures to provide depth. Houstan is a former defensive line recruit who has taken to the offensive side very well, per people inside the program.
If healthy, the starting center for Notre Dame will be redshirt senior Ashton Craig . Whenever Craig has been available the last couple of years, he has been a rock-solid member of this group. Health has been a major issue for Craig, however, and his availability for the start of the season is worth monitoring.
Joe Otting gained valuable experience last season and could be the center of the future, or even the present depending on Craig's status. Redshirt freshman Cam Herron is another name worth watching. He's a bit undersized but naturally growing into his frame and is a gifted athlete at the position.
This is my slight upset pick. Redshirt junior Sullivan Absher started multiple games at right guard last season and brings plenty of experience at 6-foot-8 and 325 pounds.
My money, though, is on redshirt freshman Augustine to win the job. The Notre Dame staff is extremely high on Augustine based on the resume he has been putting together over the last several months.
With the long-term implications surrounding Jagusah's availability still in question, this team could be more aggressive and opt for a player like Augustine, who has four years of eligibility in front of him. I believe Augustine becomes the starting right guard in the season opener against Wisconsin .
Lambert moves into his natural position after starting the majority of last season at right guard. Now a redshirt sophomore, the 6-foot-6, 325-pound lineman showed a lot of growth throughout 2025 and possesses raw power and natural movement skills that should translate well to the right tackle spot vacated by the departed Aamil Wagner .
Behind him, Augustine could serve as a backup if Absher wins the right guard job. Owen Strebig, a redshirt freshman at 6-foot-8 and over 300 pounds, is another name to keep a close eye on. He's still a bit raw, but there's tremendous upside to be excited about.
Notre Dame's offensive line has real talent and legitimate depth despite the loss of Jagusah. The combination of a former five-star at left tackle, a potential NFL Draft pick at left guard, and hungry young players competing at right guard gives this group a high ceiling. Fall camp will sort out the final pecking order, but this unit has the pieces to be a strength of the 2026 Fighting Irish.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Notre Dame offensive line fall camp preview: Predicting the starting 5 up front without Charles Jagusah
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