Notre Dame’s offensive line faced a major setback over the weekend as left tackle Charles Jagusah was ruled out for the entire 2024 season due to a torn right pectoral muscle. An MRI conducted on Monday confirmed that Jagusah will not be able to return this year.
Jagusah, who saw limited action last season with just 73 snaps—primarily in the Sun Bowl where he made his first start—was anticipated to be a key player for the Irish this fall. The coaching staff had high hopes for the sophomore’s development and had no competition lined up for the left tackle spot, despite Tosh Baker and Aamil Wagner battling for the right tackle position.
During practice on Saturday, Aug 3, OL Charles Jagusah injured his shoulder, tearing his right pectoralis muscle, & DB/special teams player Marty Auer injured his left knee, tearing his ACL. Surgery is upcoming for both Jagusah & Auer, & both are expected to miss the 2024 season.
— Notre Dame Football PR Team (@NDFootballPR) August 5, 2024
Offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock had expressed confidence in the young tackles, noting Jagusah’s potential and acknowledging Wagner’s strong spring performance. With the offensive line already in a state of flux following the departure of Joe Alt and Blake Fisher, Notre Dame may need to shift Baker to left tackle and keep Wagner on the right side. This poses a challenge given that neither player has game experience in these roles, especially with the season opener against Texas A&M, which boasts a formidable pass rush and a raucous home crowd of over 100,000.
The interior line will see Ashton Craig at center and Billy Schrauth at right guard, with Rocco Spindler and Pat Coogan competing for the left guard spot.
Jagusah, a former blue-chip recruit who chose Notre Dame over Michigan and won a state wrestling championship in high school, was seen as a future star. However, a lower-body injury during his senior year of high school hampered his final wrestling season and delayed his progress. Despite a challenging start to his freshman year, Jagusah showed promise by November, and there were high hopes for him this season. Now, Notre Dame faces the challenge of reconfiguring its offensive line once again.
