SOUTH BEND — Notre Dame football will be without starting left tackle Anthonie Knapp in the College Football Playoff championship game against Ohio State, coach Marcus Freeman announced Sunday.
A season-long starter as a freshman, Knapp suffered a high left ankle sprain 14 snaps into the Jan. 9 win over Penn State in the Orange Bowl. Graduate senior Tosh Baker replaced him for the final 61 offensive plays and struggled to the second-lowest Pro Football Focus grade (41.5) of his career.
The 6-foot-8 Baker graded out at 40.7 in his first career start against Purdue in 2021.
Graduate senior Rocco Spindler, meanwhile, suffered a setback with his sprained right ankle and exited late in the first half after 22 snaps. Redshirt freshman Charles Jagusah, making his 2024 debut after August shoulder surgery, went the rest of the way at right guard in place of Spindler.
“We’ll see how (Spindler) progresses this week of practice,” Freeman said Sunday on a national conference call with reporters. “I know he’ll give everything he has into make sure he’s prepared.”
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With Knapp missing the title game in Atlanta, close to his hometown of Roswell, Ga., the Irish are certain to use their fourth different configuration to start a game this year on the offensive line. If Spindler is able to make his 13th straight start, Jagusah could return to left tackle, his natural position, against the Buckeyes.
That’s where Jagusah made his only career start in last year’s Sun Bowl win over Oregon State after NFL first-rounder Joe Alt opted out. Knapp’s season-ending injury means right tackle Aamil Wagner is the only remaining lineman for the Irish with a chance to start all 16 games at the same spot.
“We’ll do what’s best for our program,” Freeman said. “We’ve got to figure that out. We have a week of preparation to make sure we get the right guys to start this game, and we’ll see what that is here in the next couple days.”
As for the flu-like symptoms going around, Freeman added that “probably over half” of the Irish roster has been affected by the illness already.
“Ohio State is probably dealing with it, too,” Freeman said. “I don’t think it will have an impact on this game.”
Leading rusher Jeremiyah Love (right knee) has returned to full availability, Freeman said, but starting wideout Beaux Collins is still battling a calf strain that limited him to seven offensive snaps in the CFP semifinal.
Collins will “work back into practice” this week, Freeman said, but he was optimistic the Clemson grad transfer would be able to play against the Buckeyes. Collins led the Irish most of the season in total receptions and receiving yards, but he has dropped to second in both categories (37 catches, 458 yards).
Collins is tied with tight end Mitchell Evans for the team lead in touchdown receptions with three.
“As long as (Collins) progresses,” Freeman said, “he’ll be good to go for the game.”
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
