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ESPN report: Charles Jagusah expected to start at left tackle for Notre Dame vs. Ohio State

IMG_9992by:Tyler Horka•about 11 hours•

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Charles Jagusah
Notre Dame offensive lineman Charles Jagusah. (Chad Weaver/Blue & Gold)

ESPN reporter Molly McGrath was spotted inside the Irish Athletics Center having a one-on-one chat with Notre Dame offensive lineman Charles Jagusah on Wednesday evening. Turns out, that chat was about more than just how excited Jagusah is to be a part of the national championship game. It was about just how involved Jagusah will be in that national championship game.

He’s expected to start at left tackle, per a report from McGrath’s coworker, Pete Thamel, on social media Saturday afternoon. Thamel said in his post his source is Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman himself.

“Freeman added that it’s ‘going in a direction’ for him starting there, although final plans will come together on Monday,” Thamel wrote. “Jagusah had what was believed to be a season-ending pec injury in camp, but the season kept going and he’ll start in national title game.”

Jagusah has not started a game this season. He tore his pectoral muscle in early August. At that time, he was slated to start in the season opener at Texas A&M at left tackle. In the wake of his injury, he was replaced briefly by graduate senior Tosh Baker. Shortly thereafter, freshman Anthonie Knapp assumed the left tackle spot and held starter status all the way into last week’s Orange Bowl.

Knapp injured his ankle against Penn State in that Orange Bowl, and Freeman announced Sunday Knapp will not be able to play against Ohio State on Jan. 20. Baker replaced Knapp mid-game in Miami. Jagusah, meanwhile, played most of that game at right guard as a replacement for senior Rocco Spindler, who also injured his ankle in the middle of the game.

Spindler does not carry an injury designation into the national title game. He’s expected to start at right guard as he has since September. That left Notre Dame to decide between Baker and Jagusah at left tackle, and, according to ESPN, it’s going to be the latter.

This will be the second start of Jagusah’s career. Technically a redshirt freshman, he made the first start of his career for Notre Dame in the Sun Bowl just over a year ago after missing most of his freshman season with a knee injury that he arrived in South Bend with coming out of high school. A four-star prospect, Jagusah was the No. 6 offensive tackle recruit in the class of 2023 according to the On3 Industry Ranking.

Jagusah has been banged up in the last couple years, but he’s healthy now and ready to protect the blindside of Notre Dame quarterback Riley Leonard against a formidable Buckeyes defensive front in the national title game.

Big player. Big stage.

“Whether I start or whether I don’t, it’s about preparation,” Jagusah. “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.”

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