One of the most impressive aspects of Notre Dame football’s run to the national championship game a year ago was the high level the offensive line played at despite countless injuries throughout the season and during games. That resulted in tons of players coming and going into the starting lineup and the line continued to play at a high level.

“We feel extremely good,” says right tackle and captain Aamil Wagner, who is the only offensive lineman to start in all 16 of Notre Dame’s games last season. “We feel really, really good. We have a really strong brotherhood among the o-line and we’ve been through the tough times together good and bad. It just gives us so much confidence to go out there and work. Right now we’re holding ourselves to the highest standard to be the best line in the country. Anything short of that, we’re on each other all the time.”

The Irish o-line will be counted on to protect 1st time starting redshirt freshman quarterback CJ Carr in the season opener Sunday on the road at what can often be a loud and difficult environment at Miami.

Sophomore Anthonie Knapp started 15 games at left tackle before suffering an ankle injury in the CFP semifinals that prevented him from playing in the national championship game. Left guard and captain Bill Schrauth missed four games in the middle of the regular season himself.

“We have a resilient group and a competitive group,” says Schrauth. “We never bat an eye–next man up mentality and we take a lot of pride in that.”

The next man up mentality is something Notre Dame (and many programs in many sports) have preached for a long time but the Irish offensive line proved they truly believed it a year ago.

“I think when you know, you know,” explained Schrauth. “We earn a lot of confidence out here going against some of the best guys in the nation over and over. So when you know, you know, and I think we got some guys who know. We got a lot of guys who know.”

Schrauth is thrilled that his best friend Ashton Craig is back from injury. The Irish center started the first three games in 2024 before being lost for the season with a knee injury.

“I feel really good,” says Craig. “Coming back in the summer, I really felt like I was ready to go and prepared to get back on the field. Heading into fall camp, the first block finished, just little soreness, but like stuff I got to work through right now– completely normal stuff. The knee’s in a great spot, ready to go and really excited to finish fall camp.”

And while Wagner and Schrauth are captains, it’s Craig as the team’s center that will be the one directing traffic and helping to guide Carr.

“His communication’s been great,” Irish offensive line coach Joe Rudolph said of Craig. “We’re leaning on him for a lot of leadership up front and I’m happy with where he is right now.”

Rudolph says you can always see a greater appreciation from the players like Craig that missed significant time because of injury.

“I’ve been looking forward to getting back to week one for sure playing against Miami,” said Craig. “Being out for 9 months, seeing the team go to the national championship and being on the sidelines, it’s a little different. But definitely put into perspective how much I’m grateful for this opportunity to be able to put on the gold helmet and go out and play on Saturdays for the Irish.”

While he was out, Craig took time to help coach up younger guys and did a lot more film study, including on opposing offenses and defenses.

Notre Dame suffered its first hit to the offensive line before preseason camp even started when Charles Jagusah was injured in an off the field ATV accident.

That opened up a spot in the starting lineup at right guard which has been quite the battle between Sullivan Absher and Guerby Lambert. Notre Dame has not officially declared which of the two will start but its likely that both could play against Miami.

Lambert has battled back from his own injury from the spring and put himself into the mix. Rudolph said early in camp he expected Lambert to have the fastest rise of the offensive lineman. Absher meanwhile gives Notre Dame tons of versatility because he can play any of the five offensive line positions.

Notre Dame and Miami kickoff at 7:30pm Sunday night in South Florida.