With spring practice set to begin on March 20, the optimism is beginning to rise for Notre Dame football and all they can accomplish during the 2026 college football season. There is so much talent returning for head coach Marcus Freeman and the Fighting Irish staff, and there are going to be some new stars to know and players in new roles. 

When it comes to the latter, we have already gained some intel about a lineup change that is on the horizon. According to a source on the Notre Dame side, two-year starting left tackle Anthonie Knapp will be making the transition inside to left guard. It’s a move that many Irish fans will be happy about – a constant debate over the last two years. 

Knapp moving inside isn’t just big for quieting that debate. It’s massive for Notre Dame football heading into the 2026 season for several reasons. 

What this means for Anthonie Knapp 

While Knapp did a good job at left tackle for the most part during his 27 starts over the last two years, most fans would probably agree that Knapp’s skill set probably fits best inside at guard. It isn’t a talent deficiency when it comes to the Georgia native. He has enough length and foot quickness to remain on the outside. 

The 6-5, 304-pound lineman simply does his best work while being physical and aggressive. Knapp’s biggest strength is his run blocking, which shows off his impressive weight room power and explosiveness. Allowing Knapp to short set more in pass protection inside also feels like the ideal fit for his physical profile. While Knapp can be (and mostly has been) a good offensive tackle on the college level, he has a chance to be an elite offensive guard next season. 

Keeping Knapp at left guard also makes an easy transition back out to tackle if the position falters. Allowing Knapp to stay in a left-handed stance is very advantageous to strengthen the floor of the left tackle position.

Maximizing Knapp’s upside was a part of this decision. From an NFL perspective, this gives Knapp the most upside on the next level. It shouldn’t be overly surprising when there is a ton of draft hype for Knapp this offseason. He has early round upside on the inside and could develop into a tremendous interior prospect this fall. 

What this means for Will Black 

While Maximizing Knapp was a big component of this move, you could make the argument that prioritizing getting sophomore Will Black on the field was even bigger. Folks around South Bend are extremely high on the 6-7, 316-pound blindside protector. He has had a strong offseason so far, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that Black needs to get on the field in 2026, and Knapp moving inside opens that opportunity. 

Considered to be a five-star in the 2025 recruiting class, Black worked a lot inside at guard during his first season. With a tremendous blend of length, size, and athleticism, there’s no question which position fits Black the best. He can play offensive guard, but Black can excel at left tackle. To say that the Notre Dame staff is high on Black would be a massive understatement. 

Prospected starting offensive line in 2026

With Black and Knapp set to hold down the left side of the offensive line for Joe Rudolph, you should also expect Guerby Lambert to flex back outside to right tackle. If healthy, Charles Jagusah will also start at right guard, making for one of the more talented offensive lines we have seen in South Bend in some time. That’s an outstanding group on paper. 

The biggest remaining question is the health of center Ashton Craig, who has been the team’s starting center for the team in each of the last two seasons. The problem is that Craig has missed a lot of time due to injury, including a knee injury this past season. Craig has started in 12 games in the blue and gold, but has also missed 19 games during the last two years. 

When healthy, Craig is one of the best centers in all of college football. The full timeline of recovery is still a bit of a question for Craig, but the good news is that the Irish do have Joe Otting behind him, which is great depth. That means that the center position should at least be good in 2026, which might be all Freeman, Rudolph, and Co. need to pair with the rest of the talented group. 

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Ryan Roberts