BlueandGold.com will release a countdown article highlighting a significant Notre Dame football statistic every day until the 2024 season opener at Texas A&M at 7:30 p.m. ET on Aug. 31 in College Station, Texas. Today, there are 81 days until the Irish and Aggies kick off at Kyle Field.
Entering his freshman year and fellow offensive tackle Aamil Wagner‘s sophomore year, the irony of what the two roommates needed to do to reach their desired weight was not lost on Charles Jagusah.
“I’ll come back to the room with my salad or whatever and he’s got four boxes of [Raising] Cane’s,” Jagusah said last August. “And he doesn’t touch any of them, so it’s just sitting there the next day.”
Weight loss was Jagusah’s goal, while weight gain was — and still is — Wagner’s. As they move toward their second fall camp together, Jagusah has locked down the starting left tackle job. Wagner will battle with graduate student Tosh Baker to start alongside him on the right.
“We’ve got a great battle at right tackle,” Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman said. “I love them. I know at some point we’ve got five guys. We’ve got to name the five and let them go, but we’re going to have a battle between Toshand Aamilat that right tackle spot.”
Wagner only played 52 offensive snaps in 2023, but his Pro Football Focus offense grade — 79.8 — was strong. He graded especially well as a run-blocker, posting an 83.6 run-blocking grade. He did receive poor reviews as a pass-blocker (37.0 grade), albeit in an extremely limited sample size (only 13 pass-blocking opportunities).
During fall camp last season, Wagner impressed the Irish coaching staff. He was one year away from contention for a significant role, but he looked like “a beast,” according to a Blue & Gold source. But for the Sun Bowl against Oregon State, Baker earned the start at right tackle.
Wagner took second-team reps throughout spring practice, but the Irish have made it clear that the competition between him and Baker will remain completely open when fall camp begins.
At that time, Wagner’s goal is to break 300 pounds for the first time in his Notre Dame career. He’s listed at 292 on the current roster, which is expected to be updated in the near future.
Coming out of Hubert Heights (Ohio) Wayne — coincidentally, Freeman’s high school alma mater as well — Wagner was the No. 80 player and No. 8 offensive tackle in the 2022 On3 Industry Ranking. The Irish had visions of him and Jagusah starting together when they signed both in consecutive seasons.
With a good fall camp, Wagner has a chance to make that happen.
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