Charles Jagusah at practice March 26, 2026. (Photo: Chad Ryan)
When all-world and now in the NFL left tackle Joe Alt opted out of the 2023 Sun Bowl, it was a bit of a surprise when the open job for the season’s final game was won by true freshman Charles Jagusah. After all, Jagusah had played a grand total of five snaps during that regular season.
No real experience? No problem!
With Jagusah in the starting lineup, ND rushed for 232 yards and protected Steve Angeli as he threw for 232 yards. The Irish dominated Oregon State, 40-8. In Jagusah’s first real action of his career in arguably the most important position on the offensive line, he had stepped into Alt’s All-American shoes and played 61 snaps en route to a season finale bowl victory.
Once that 2023 season was in the rearview mirror, it appeared to be obvious that ND had an heir apparent at left tackle. That assumption persisted until the fourth day of fall camp. Then, on August 3, 2024, in practice, Jagusah suffered a torn pectoral muscle.
Surgery cruelly ended his season. Or so it was thought.
The most optimistic estimate was that he might be able to get back to practice in four months. Something to shoot for, but if the 6-7, 320-pound former high school state wrestling champion from Rock Island, Illinois, was going to salvage anything out of 2024, he had to hope that the Irish would win a lot of games and extend the season.
The Irish of course, delivered.
True freshman Anthonie Knapp went on to establish himself at Jagusah’s tackle position, and the Irish rolled to an 11-1 regular season and a win over Indiana in the first round of the College Football Playoffs.
Jagusah had the extended season he needed to get back to helping his team.
He first saw action in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia—ten snaps, all on special teams. At that point, just getting back on the field after the injury was a big accomplishment and satisfying, but only so much. Jagusah confirmed that feeling after a recent practice when he sat with the media: “I made it back, I accomplished part of my goal, at least.”
A few special teams appearances was not enough though. No way was Jagusah ready to sit back and be satisfied. “For me, it was stay ready because you never know when you are going to play.”
In fact, Jagusah appeared to be plenty ready when, nine days later, the Irish squared off against Penn State in the Orange Bowl/national semi-final. In the second quarter, right guard Rocco Spindler suffered an ankle injury, and Marcus Freeman called for the next man up. Jagusah was inserted in the lineup and played 57 plays at the new position.
His performance that day was impressive, and his offensive line coach, Joe Rudolph, was impressed. Really impressed. “Who’s that dude?” Rudolph gushed recently about that performance. “With offensive line, there’s a lot going on, and for a guy to stand out that way (is rare).”
Jagusah’s performance in place of Spindler after that injury against Penn State was critical in the nailbiting victory over the Nittany Lions. Jagusah had now checked two boxes in 2024: just getting back into the lineup for special teams duty was a huge accomplishment in itself, but with his performance against Penn State, he also had made a signature contribution to the season.
But Jagusah had one more major role left to play last season, this time in the national championship game.
Rocco Spindler made it back to the starting lineup at guard against Ohio State, but Anthonie Knapp, the man who had taken over for Jagusah when he suffered the preseason injury, went down with an injury of his own against Penn State.
Enter Jagusah, and back into the left tackle position.
Jagusah’s season had come full circle: left tackle to injury to four months of rehab to special teams duty to right guard and back to left tackle in time for college football’s biggest game of the season.
When asked if he was fully healthy and at his best when he came back last season, Jagusah, who has looked great in the reps the media has seen this spring and who cuts quite the imposing physique in person, admits to not being fully back from last season’s injury. “I’m still working through some weakness, (but) if you have confidence and your body feels good and ready to go, then it really doesn’t matter.”
The thought that Jagusah was able to perform at the level he did last season when not at full strength is something that future opponents may want to think about, and Notre Dame fans should be salivating over.
But this spring, the question is exactly where does Jagusah fits in—guard or tackle?
With the emergence of highly regarded Guerby Lambert, the hoped-for return of Anthonie Knapp, and the solid play of Aamil Wagner at right tackle, the Irish have a bit more talent at tackle than at guard. So, it would seem that Jagusah’s future may well be in the interior.
Joe Rudolph said as much in comments about where Jagusah fits in the 2025 picture: “Charles has great flexibility for what he can do.” He then added to that statement by referring to Jagusah’s impressive play at guard against Penn State: “When you see someone who maybe could be as good as anyone in the country or better, you keep developing in that spot.”
That comment certainly caught this reporter’s attention.
So, pencil Charles Jagusah in at one of the guard positions. But don’t forget that at a moment’s notice, he has proven that he can step into the tackle position. And that versatility, makes him a very valuable commodity.
