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Notre Dame offensive tackle Anthonie Knapp will miss the College Football Playoff National Championship with a high ankle sprain he sustained in the Orange Bowl semifinal win over Penn State. Right guard Rocco Spindler is expected to play, but will have to recover during the week.
Knapp had a solid season after winning the starting left tackle job as a true freshman. The Roswell, Georgia, native started all 15 games for the Fighting Irish and did not allow a sack in his final nine games. Knapp was only the third true freshman offensive lineman to start for Notre Dame in a season opener.
When Knapp went down, senior Tosh Baker entered the lineup against the Nittany Lions and allowed five hurries and a sack of quarterback Riley Leonard on 61 snaps. Spindler also went out after 22 snaps and was replaced by Charles Jagusah, who is just now coming back after missing the entire regular season with a torn right pectoralis.
Running back Jeremiyah Love is expected to be fully healthy for the championship after playing against Penn State with a knee injury. Wide receiver Beaux Collins is working back from a calf strain and will be monitored in practice. In addition, Notre Dame has been dealing with a strain of the flu, but Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman does not expect it to factor into the game.
“Ohio State is probably dealing with it, too,” Freeman said. “I think probably over half of our team has gotten it already, so I don’t think it will have an impact on this week’s game.”
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Baker competed for the starting job out of camp, but offensive line coach Joe Rudolph opted to go with the talented and inexperienced Knapp. Previously, Notre Dame projected Jagusah to start at left tackle before his injury.
Jagusah entered the…
Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/notre-dames-anthonie-knapp-to-miss-college-football-playoff-national-championship-as-injuries-mount-for-irish/
Author : Shehan Jeyarajah
Publish date : 2025-01-12 18:36:00
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