Notre Dame’s offensive line will look different in 2026.
Billy Schrauth (32 games) and Aamil Wagner (35 games) are off to the NFL.
Six practices into the spring, Notre Dame is continuing to tinker with its offensive line, but the first-team appears to have a foundation pending the health of Charles Jagusah.
There’s experience in the room, and this spring is less about finding bodies and more about identifying the right fits.
Will Black has stepped into the coveted left tackle role, with Anthonie Knapp sliding inside to left guard and Guerby Lambert working at right tackle.
Early on, Black may be the key to everything.
Spring will be a critical evaluation period for the 6-foot-7, 316-pounder, who is being tested daily against one of the nation’s top edge rushers in Boubacar Traore, along with a deep and talented defensive line group.
“He’s doing a good job,” stated head coach Marcus Freeman. “He’s a big body. Will had a lot of hype coming into this program. He got here in June, and like any freshman, had a bumpy road that first year and his career will be bumpy, but it’s extremely high as you look at his ceiling.”
Rudolph and Notre Dame will know a great deal about where Black stands in his development following the spring. Black is being tested against one of the best edge rushers in the country in Boubacar Traore and a wealth of talent in the Irish defensive line room.
“He’s doing a really good job at the left tackle position, going against really good players,” explained Freeman. “He’s going to improve because he has to block Bryce Young and Boubacar Traore and some of those really good players every single day.
“That’s going to make him the best version of himself, or he’s going to get embarrassed. I’ve been really pleased with what he’s done through these first six practices.”
At center, Ashton Craig remains out as he recovers from an ACL injury, and Joe Otting, who started the last six games last fall, is getting work with the first team. Sullivan Absher rounds out the starting five at right guard after starting the final five games of 2025.
Freeman appeared pleased that Rudolph has five players who haven’t rotated out of first-team work, as it allows them to build cohesion and work on the finer details of seeing through one set of eyes.
It’s also allowed Rudolph to focus on developing younger players, including moving a few guys around.
“Each group has done some really good things, but there’s consistency in the groups,” Freeman stated. “You’re not playing musical chairs within the groups. We’re moving some guys, like Matty Augustine, playing a little tackle and a little guard with the twos, so he can be ready to play either position. I’ve seen a lot of improvement.
Communication is always critical for offensive line play and it appears to be a strength early this spring.
Freeman emphasized that the group’s ability to recognize defensive looks and apply what they’ve learned in the meeting room is showing up on the practice field.
“A lot of really good communication,” Freeman said of what he’s learned about the group. “Being able to recognize what you see is so important. To be able to recall things that you see and what coaches are telling you, that gives you an opportunity to have success when you play offense line, and that’s in the run and the pass game.
“There are tells all over the place, but if you don’t communicate, then you’re not going to be able to execute. I’m seeing a really good job of the guys communicating, executing, and protecting CJ (Carr) really well.”
Notre Dame’s extended offseason has also accelerated the unit’s development.
Freeman has been open about the team being ahead of schedule, which has allowed practices to focus more on competitive, game-like situations rather than individual drills.
For the offensive line, that’s invaluable.
“We practice more team and competitive situations than we ever had before because our foundation was a lot higher,” said Freeman. “It's been really good. You can evaluate, you can coach ball. You can coach them actually playing the game of football.
“Individual drills, those are important. Group work's important, but nothing's going to help you become a better player more than actually playing the game. We've been able to do that.”
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