2026 Fall Camp Thread

[Dale]

Also on that play - Otting at Center, so Craig at RG with the 1s? Can’t make out who is there in that clip but This would be my preferred line up.

75 Absher

 

[NDPhilly]

75 Absher

You have better eyes than me. He certainly looks the part of a bulldozer at guard. Kid is absolutely massive.

 

[greyhammer90]

I will never ever leave this site

I can't get onto women for loving Bravo because this site is the cattiest place in the universe and I love it.

 

[jprue24]

I can't get onto women for loving Bravo because this site is the cattiest place in the universe and I love it.

Just tell her it's like a Bravo show for men.

 

[IrishInOntario]

I didn't recall that but touché. Everything that's written (not podcasted) on Jagusah at ISD he no expectation on 2026. And Matt Freeman specifically doesn't share Mike's 2026 optimism (although I do because I don't understand how it can be an 8 month thing).

It's the nerve damage / regeneration piece. The bone has healed (or is healing) by all accounts, but the kid's arm literally has not been "right" since the injury. Getting the feeling and associated strength back in the arm can take a long time. It's a patience game and you never know at what rate a kid will fully heal.

 

[NDPhilly]

Assume this was filmed during their NYC media blitz. Sometimes I think the PR is a little much but MF is such a natural at it. CJ crushes it here too.

 

[domer10mjpc]

Wonder if Porter had a patella bone plug type surgery. Would explain the uncertainty of his return and overall future.

 

[Old Man Mike]

What a smooth "good-feel" performance by those two. Another thing to make us proud.

 

[Rizzophil]

Wonder if Porter had a patella bone plug type surgery. Would explain the uncertainty of his return and overall future.

Yeah. That’s why i don’t think he had BIG guaranteed NIL money.

 

[RudyVerse]

For those with ISD, an "ask Matt" thread which has a lot from a very well plugged in staff member.

Not expecting Absher to win the job according to Matt.

 

[arrowryan]

For those with ISD, an "ask Matt" thread which has a lot from a very well plugged in staff member.

Not expecting Absher to win the job according to Matt.

Could see that one coming from a mile away. As soon Augustine got hurt, everyone looked at Craig as a replacement. As if Absher didn’t even exist.

 

[RudyVerse]

Could see that one coming from a mile away. As soon Augustine got hurt, everyone looked at Craig as a replacement. As if Absher didn’t even exist.

If Craig goes to center he likes Otting at guard as the starter. To add.

 

[greyhammer90]

If Craig goes to center he likes Otting at guard as the starter. To add.

Now that's interesting. Otting isn't terribly small but 305 is a little underweight for an OG these days.

 

[arrowryan]

If Craig goes to center he likes Otting at guard as the starter. To add.

It’s hard to trust the media these days, considering their limited access and last year’s QB fiasco. But if that’s true, Absher must be having an extremely poor camp. He’d essentially be the 4th string RG.

 

[IrishInOntario]

Simply a matter of Joe Rudolph trying to find his best 5. If he believes that both Otting and Craig are better players than Absher and that a position switch to RG for Craig won't negatively impact his ability, we'lll see a healthy OL of....

LT: Black
LG: Knapp
C: Otting
RG: Craig
RT: Lambert

#6 Absher

If Jagusah can get healthy at any point it will be...

LT: Black
LG: Knapp
C: Otting OR Craig
RG: Jagusah
RT: Lambert

#6 Otting OR Craig

 

[Dale]

If Craig goes to center he likes Otting at guard as the starter. To add.

That makes no sense

 

[arrowryan]

Now that's interesting. Otting isn't terribly small but 305 is a little underweight for an OG these days.

Who was the starting center in 2022(?) that could barely stay at 290. The DL had him on ice skates all the time.

 

[MeanGreenBeans]

Who was the starting center in 2022(?) that could barely stay at 290. The DL had him on ice skates all the time.

Zeke Correll.

 

[Irish du Nord]

Simply comparing last seasons performances of Absher vs Otting this seems like the right call. Not to say Absher was poor but Otting was great from the outset. If the staff is comfortable sliding Craig to guard then unfortunately for Sully we have our first “Best 5” right there.

 

[Dale]

I’ll call my shot: there is 0 chance the Week 1 starters are C - Craig and RG Otting

 

[NDFAN2008]

I think Absher was the biggest weak link last year, hopefully Jagusah can get healthy sooner than later.

 

[DomeFieldAdvantage]

Otting at guard makes me wonder what the recovery timeline is looking like for Augustine. If they expect him back pretty early in the season, it could make putting him back in more seamless instead of having to have different starters at both center and guard.

 

[greyhammer90]

I’ll call my shot: there is 0 chance the Week 1 starters are C - Craig and RG Otting

I agree that it doesn't make much sense. I would get it as a possibility if Otting couldn't snap the ball, but we know he can.

 

[notredomer23]

Based upon reports and frankly common sense, the most likely outcome is:
C Otting
RG Craig

C Craig
RG Other

C Craig
RG Otting

The beat always overthinks it this time of the year when Rudolph is trying all these different positions.

 

[Irish du Nord]

Who was the starting center in 2022(?) that could barely stay at 290. The DL had him on ice skates all the time.

Not for nothing, but Zeke ended up having a pretty good year with NC State in his 5th season. Made third team All-ACC.

Put that in with Dillon Gibbons making first team All ACC, Coogan 2nd Team All Big Ten, Spindler All Big 10 HM, Pendleton as the second best lineman on a Joe Moore semifinalist Vols team, Quinn Carroll 3xBig 10 HM, and Luke Jones and Joey Tanona ended up as quality starters for low end Big 10/ SEC programs.

Heck, former PWO Quinn Murphy played 13 games for Western Michigan in 2024.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Even the big guy (Ty Chan) that everyone, stupidly, likes to make fun of started on his team.

 

[NDPhilly]

Have to wonder how close Cam Herron is to breaking into the IOL depth battle if they have this little faith in Sully.

 

[StPaul_Irish]

Even the big guy (Ty Chan) that everyone, stupidly, likes to make fun of started on his team.

Make fun of? He's a ND Legend -

 

[IrishLax]

The thing with Craig is that they believe he won't fuck up. The idea is to get five guys out there that will generate the fewest negative plays, especially on passing downs. Absher has had every opportunity to lock down the job and has played a lot of live reps, so it's pretty easy to read between the lines that he is just not playing consistently and loses too many reps.

The Billy Schrauth situation where he was super ready to gtfo of Notre Dame will always be weird to me. Literally would've made more in NIL coming back and never really considered it. The "upside" for the line is completely different with either him or healthy Jagusah at RG.

 

[RudyVerse]

The thing with Craig is that they believe he won't fuck up. The idea is to get five guys out there that will generate the fewest negative plays, especially on passing downs. Absher has had every opportunity to lock down the job and has played a lot of live reps, so it's pretty easy to read between the lines that he is just not playing consistently and loses too many reps.

The Billy Schrauth situation where he was super ready to gtfo of Notre Dame will always be weird to me. Literally would've made more in NIL coming back and never really considered it. The "upside" for the line is completely different with either him or healthy Jagusah at RG.

Completely agree but I’m still bullish on Jagusah returning ~ week 8. That’s 7 months removed from final surgery.

If we have Augustine and Jagusah ~week 8, the pieces and depth are there to go all the way with or without Billy.