Notre Dame Post-Spring Depth Chart: Offensive Line

Notre Dame has been solid up front in recent seasons, but the Irish need to be much better up front if they are going to win a title. We saw progress this spring, as the Notre Dame coaches showed a different looking unit. There is a lot of talent and depth up front, but the line will need to continue developing as the Irish prepare for the 2026 season.

Here’s the post-spring depth chart projection for the Notre Dame offensive line.

RETURNING STARTS

Anthonie Knapp - 27 starts
Guerby Lambert - 12 starts 
Ashton Craig - 12 starts
Joe Otting - 6 starts
Sullivan Absher - 5 starts

OFFENSIVE TACKLE

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Redshirt freshman Will Black was moved to his more natural left tackle position this spring and he responded well. Black performed well during the spring and finished off with a quality performance in the Blue-Gold Game. He'll need to continue showing improvement, but Black seems to have the left tackle spot locked down. Redshirt sophomore Guerby Lambert was a 12-game starter at right guard last season, but he only moved to guard because of the injury to Charles Jagusah. Lambert is a natural tackle and will now start at his more natural position. If his spring performance is any indication of how he'll play in 2026, Lambert will have a chance to emerge as one of the best right tackles in the country.

Redshirt freshman Matty Augustine seems to have put himself in position to be the next man in at both tackle and guard. We saw Augustine at both right tackle and right guard this spring, and there's a chance he would bump over to left tackle should Black get injured, or struggle. Redshirt sophomore Styles Prescod is still listed as the backup left tackle, but don't be surprised is true freshman Grayson McKeogh makes a push to pass him up in the fall. McKeogh had a very strong first spring for the Irish. Redshirt freshman Owen Strebig also showed a lot of growth this spring, finishing it off with quality performances in both the Jersey Scrimmage and Blue-Gold Game.

Freshman Gregory Patrick is listed as a right tackle for now, right behind fellow freshman Charlie Thom. That's a projection based on where he played in high school, but Patrick could get a shot on the left side, and he has the frame and tools to slide inside if that opens up a chance for him to more quickly move up the depth chart.

OFFENSIVE GUARD

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The move of junior Anthonie Knapp to left guard was even smoother than I expected. After starting 27 games at left tackle during his first two seasons, Knapp slid inside this spring and he performed quite well. There's still some necessary refinement needed, but Knapp looked extremely natural at guard, especially in the run game. Redshirt junior Sullivan Absher looked good at right guard, showing improvement after starting five games at left guard last season. He and Lambert showed a very natural rapport this spring.

Both redshirt junior Devan Houstan and redshirt sophomore Peter Jones impressed during the spring. I could see them battle it out for the backup LG job in fall camp. Redshirt junior Christopher Terek spent time at both right guard and center this spring.

Freshman Tyler Merrill missed the spring while recovering from offseason surgery and classmate Ben Nichols arrives this summer. Both could play either left or right guard, but Merrill was at RG as a senior and Nichols played more on the left side as a senior, so that's why they are projected where they are at the moment. Overall, the staff could easily flip a LG to RG, and vice versa, but the above is where all the non freshmen played this spring.

The wildcard, of course, is redshirt junior Charles Jagusah. He was expected to be the team's starting right guard - and arguably best lineman - in 2025 before an offseason elbow injury ended his season. Jagusah returning to health is something the program is hopeful will happen, but right now we don't know when he'll be back, or what kind of player he'll be when he returns. If he ever returns to full speed and gets back into form, he would add a massive and elite talent to the lineup.

CENTER

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The expectation is that once senior Ashton Craig returns to full strength he'll step back into the starting lineup. Craig has started between three and six games the last three seasons, but he had both his 2024 and 2025 seasons cut short due to a knee injury. It shouldn't be assumed that he'll return to full strength and regain the impressive form he showed before his injuries. If he does, however, he'll seize hold of the center spot and have a shot to emerge as one of the better centers in the country.

Redshirt junior Joe Otting handled himself well in his six starts last season, and he was solid throughout the spring. He gives Notre Dame a now veteran presence to handle the center role should the need arise. It wouldn't shock me if Otting was moved to guard if one of the starters went down for a long period of time.

Redshirt freshman Cam Herron had an interesting spring. He remains at center, where he has some impressive moments, but when he played guard during the Jersey Scrimmage he looked as good as I've seen him in a Notre Dame uniform. Freshman Sullivan Garvin is a massive and powerful young blocker that could quickly rise up the depth chart.

The centers as a whole were very inconsistent snapping this spring, something that will need to be addressed in the offseason.

PAST DEPTH CHARTS

Quarterback
Running Back
Wide Receiver
Tight End

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