Knapp started each of Notre Dame’s previous 15 games this season, winning the left tackle in preseason practice.
Notre Dame will be without one of its top blockers for its College Football Playoff national championship showdown with Ohio State. Left tackle Anthonie Knapp will miss the game due to a high ankle sprain, head coach Marcus Freeman announced on Sunday.
Knapp sustained the injury during the second quarter of the Irish’s CFP quarterfinal win over Penn State in the Orange Bowl. He was replaced by graduate senior Tosh Baker for the remainder of Notre Dame’s 27–24 victory.
The freshman started each of the Irish’s previous 15 games this season. He won the starting left tackle position after Charles Jagusah suffered a shoulder injury during preseason practice in August. Knapp joined Notre Dame as a three-star recruit out of Roswell High School in Georgia.
Anthonie Knapp is a bad dude. Love the finish pic.twitter.com/tJNgvyQkXo
— Jamie Uyeyama (@jamieuyeyama) December 2, 2024
Starting right guard Rocco Spindler, who sustained his own ankle injury versus Penn State, will attempt to practice this week. He also left the game during the second quarter and was replaced by Jagusah. The senior appeared in all 15 games for Notre Dame.
“We’ll see how he progresses the week of practice,” Freeman said, via ESPN. “I know he’ll give everything he has to make sure he’s prepared.
“As far as the starting lineup, we’ll do what’s best for our program. 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 of days.”
With Jagusah now available, Freeman acknowledged that he could possibly start at left tackle, presuming Spindler is available to play.
The injury news for running back Jeremiyah Love was much better. The Irish’s leading rusher (1,122 yards, 17 touchdowns) has been struggling with a knee injury but will play against the Buckeyes. Love rushed for 46 yards and a score versus Penn State.
However, the status for receiver Beaux Collins is less certain. Collins saw limited action in the Orange Bowl due to a calf strain, but Freeman is hopeful he’ll be available. The senior was Notre Dame’s second-leading receiver this season with 37 catches for 458 yards and three TDs.
Notre Dame and Ohio State will face each other in the CFP national championship game on Jan. 20 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
