When Charles Jagusah suffered a season-ending injury early in training camp, many expected fifth-year senior Tosh Baker to shift back to left tackle and take over as the starter. However, recent media viewings suggest that true freshman Anthonie Knapp has claimed the top spot on the depth chart and could be set for his first career start at left tackle in just over two weeks against the Texas A&M defense at Kyle Field.
According to Blue & Gold Illustrated’s Tyler Horka, Knapp has been practicing with the first-team offensive line for two consecutive media sessions. Horka tweeted that the projected Notre Dame starting offensive line includes:
– Left tackle: Anthonie Knapp
– Left guard: Sam Pendleton
– Center: Ashton Craig
– Right guard: Billy Schrauth
– Right tackle: Aamil Wagner
This lineup features a mix of freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, with sophomore Sam Pendleton also taking reps at left guard, a position initially expected to be contested by Pat Coogan and Roco Spindler.
Depth charts often fluctuate during this time of year, and the Notre Dame coaching staff could be exercising some strategic misdirection. However, Knapp’s presence with the first-team line suggests he is being seriously considered for the starting role. Should Knapp take the field as the starting left tackle, he would be the third true freshman in three years to start at the position for Notre Dame, following in the footsteps of Blake Fisher (2021) and Joe Alt (who replaced an injured Fisher that same year). Before them, Ryan Harris was the last true freshman to start at left tackle in 2003.
Initially, it was thought that Baker might start for a few weeks, allowing Knapp to ease into the role, similar to how Alt was gradually introduced into the lineup in 2021. That plan seems to have accelerated, potentially to avoid the early-season struggles that plagued the offensive line in 2021 before Alt’s insertion solidified the unit.
If Knapp starts against Texas A&M’s formidable defense, his rapid rise would closely mirror Alt’s trajectory. Like Alt, Knapp wasn’t highly regarded by most recruiting services, with three of the four major outlets rating him as a 3-star prospect. On3 was the exception, ranking him as the fifth-best interior lineman in the country and 97th overall. Should Knapp win the starting job, On3’s evaluation would appear to be spot-on, while others may have underestimated him. Several major programs, including Penn State, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, and NC State, extended offers to Knapp, but he remained relatively under the radar.
If Knapp ultimately takes over the left tackle position, he will be smaller than his predecessors, Fisher and Alt, both of whom weighed over 300 pounds as freshmen. Knapp, listed at 6-4, 291 pounds, falls short of the ideal size for a starting left tackle. Yet, his reps with the first team suggest that the coaching staff sees potential in him as a starter ahead of Notre Dame’s season opener in a hostile College Station environment.
With two weeks left before offensive line coach Joe Rudolph, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock, and head coach Marcus Freeman finalize their decision, it appears that Notre Dame might start a freshman at one of the most critical positions on the offensive line to open the season.
