Notre Dame Football

Notre Dame Interior Solid with Ashton Craig & Billy Schrauth

By Matt Freeman

August 7, 2024

8,436

Ashton Craig and Billy Schrauth patiently awaited an opportunity at Notre Dame in 2023.

Entering the season, Schrauth was a candidate to start as a true sophomore, but Pat Coogan and Rocco Spindler won the guard spots, while Craig served as the backup to veteran center Zeke Correll.

And then the Clemson game happened.

Correll and Spindler not only were knocked out of the game, but both suffered season-ending injuries during the long afternoon in Death Valley.

It was the opportunity both needed as Craig and Schrauth started the final three games of the season and hope to carry that momentum into 2024.

“Those last three games were huge to be able to come in and calm my nerves down, settle in and play ball,” Craig said. “It’s huge going into the season building confidence and being ready to go against Texas A&M.”

For Schrauth, the biggest takeaway from last fall was fully understanding the standard of offensive line play at Notre Dame. On the surface, the standard is the standard as the NFL rosters with Nore Dame offensive linemen speak volumes.

Yet, it’s still different when a player is thrown in the fire and is counted on to carry that standard of play.

“There’s a standard that’s been set here at Notre Dame, especially in our offensive line group,” explained Schrauth. “That’s not going anywhere. Carrying that over, knowing that’s there and playing for those guys who used to wear the old gold helmets and used to be in that offensive line room, that’s what’s really important to us and me personally.

“We see the pictures of those guys who came before us and laid the standard. They did the hard work of showing what it is to be a Notre Dame offensive lineman. We show up and we get to do the easy part and keep holding that standard.”

Craig and Schrauth were in the same recruiting class and practiced together over the first two years, naturally developing chemistry, but it goes even deeper as they are roommates.

“I live with the guy, too,” Craig said. “Me and him are always around and we're always chatting and just trying to build our chemistry together. We've been working together like after practice, just trying to get little things. I'm looking forward to continue to build that with Billy and I'm excited for this season.”

Defensive lineman Rylie Mills has seen a lot of the interior duo during the last week, but also off the field as both players and the rest of the offensive line are always together.

“I didn’t get too many opportunities in the spring to go against them, but in fall camp, it’s been great to battle against them,” explained Mills. “They’re always together. They move in herds. If you’re walking to get lunch, they’re probably together eating off the same plate.

“They have great communication and great chemistry.”

Notre Dame will now rely on both to help overcome left tackle Charles Jagusah's season-ending injury.

Schrauth will be breaking in a new right tackle in Aamil Wagner as Blake Fisher works his way up the Houston Texans' depth chart.

Wagner impressed Schruath during the summer and the first week of camp.

“Aamil does a really good job of getting his hands on people,” stated Schrauth. “He has heavy hands. I tell him all the time to get them on him. He plays with a lot of length and that’s another thing he does really well.”

New faces might not surround Craig, he will be counted on the leader from his center spot.

“I just come in every day with the same mindset,” said Craig. It's just trying to get better. I think certain guys see things like what the standard is, and they always try to follow that direction.

“There's certain things like just trying to be that communicator because I'm center, I'm communicating everything. So just trying to be able to be that voice for the O-line and trying to just have everyone on the same page.”

And as it relates to Mike Denbrock’s offense, not much has changed for the offensive line.

“Our job stays the same,” said Schrauth. “We go back to the basics. That’s never changing. What works, works. That’s kind of what we’re focused on.”