'22 WI OG Billy Schrauth (Notre Dame Signee)

[IrishTusker]

No idea what NDs is but it’s likely some cut of the $20M cap, as I assume ND splits more of that with other sports than most serious football programs.

Have seen reports/podcasts OSU’s is in the 40s, close to 50.

Do you have links to sources suggesting that ND's NIL budget is half OSU's? How likely is that given the recruiting class ND just signed?

 

[Dale]

I wanna see Craig at OG as a first move. Gives you more freedom on Lambert/Jagusah + rehab questions, just let Otting run with the C job.

 

[tko]

Isn't Eville tight with the Kiser Family?

 

[RudyVerse]

Do you have links to sources suggesting that ND's NIL budget is half OSU's? How likely is that given the recruiting class ND just signed?

No, these are things I’ve heard/seen, I’m not writing an article and collecting sources as I go. Not trying to sound condescending but it’s just one of those things you come across and are surprised by.

John Brice has said it plainly but even then IDK which episode. Last week, Matt Freeman said part of the reason it isn’t close because OSU has the advantage of being a large city with tons of business diners.

 

[Plankton]

Classic ND offseason boys.

 

[rtrn2glory]

That blows. I don't like the decision for the kid. With his injury history I wouldn't expect him to be drafted too high

 

[notredomer23]

Isn't Eville tight with the Kiser Family?

That was @Edge I believe

 

[irishjim]

No, these are things I’ve heard/seen, I’m not writing an article and collecting sources as I go. Not trying to sound condescending but it’s just one of those things you come across and are surprised by.

John Brice has said it plainly but even then IDK which episode.

It is also important to remember that both the schools and NIL collectives can pay players. I would bet Notre Dame is paying players as much as anyone (because we choose football).. any difference in players are paid comes from NIL collectives. For example, Oregon with Phil Knight, or Texas Tech with oil money. I would still bet Notre Dame is competitive in that regard.

I think it is obvious Ohio State boosters made sure that championship was won last year. This year you can definitely say Ohio State is beatable this year, as is anyone in college football because the collectives aren’t paying out 40-50 million a year.

 

[RudyVerse]

It is also important to remember that both the schools and NIL collectives can pay players. I would bet Notre Dame is paying players as much as anyone (because we choose football).. any difference in players are paid comes from NIL collectives. For example, Oregon with Phil Knight, or Texas Tech with oil money. I would still bet Notre Dame is competitive in that regard.

I think it is obvious Ohio State boosters made sure that championship was won last year. This year you can definitely say Ohio State is beatable this year, as is anyone in college football because the collectives aren’t paying out 40-50 million a year.

CFB teams are past this threshold per Jon Brice. People are free to disagree with him based on what they know, but he’s said this.

 

[Irish5Saint]

Spin this offseason as a positive. Let’s hear it.

Go suck a ****

 

[KPENN]

I’m not sure why a senior turning pro is an indictment of NIL. ND has retained of players like him. Some guys just wanna be a pro

 

[IrishInOntario]

Undoubtedly a loss for ND in 2026, but there had been a high probability that this may happen for a while. On a positive note, a healthy Absher, while not Schrauth, is still a starting caliber guard and ND will also be looking for Will Black to take a big jump this year. Assuming Jagusah gets backs into playing shape, ND can still field an OL with exceptionally high upside in 2026.

LT: Knapp
LG: Absher
C: Craig or Otting
RG: Jagusah
RT: Lambert

OR

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

OR

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

Still lots of good combinations that ND could field in 2026 and the good news is that ND has 6 highly winnable games, featuring three Big 10 opponents, to start the season, prior to their game against Miami. That should give the unit plenty of time to gel and work out the kinks, while solidifying the best combination to protect Carr and open up the run game.

 

[RudyVerse]

I’m not sure why a senior turning pro is an indictment of NIL. ND has retained of players like him. Some guys just wanna be a pro

There was a comment as to why OSU has been successful bringing pros back.

 

[Irish5Saint]

No, these are things I’ve heard/seen, I’m not writing an article and collecting sources as I go. Not trying to sound condescending but it’s just one of those things you come across and are surprised by.

John Brice has said it plainly but even then IDK which episode. Last week, Matt Freeman said part of the reason it isn’t close because OSU has the advantage of being a large city with tons of business diners.

lol Bevacqua hates non-football sports. 85% of revenue sharing is going to football.

Get better sources .

 

[RudyVerse]

lol Bevacqua hates non-football sports. 85% of revenue sharing is going to football.

Get better sources .

And unless ND is tripling that 85% outside the cap, they are not competing at the top in NIL.

 

[EvilleIrish]

Are we trying to talk ourselves into Jagusah ever being ready? Serious question.

 

[allenm5333]

Undoubtedly a loss for ND in 2026, but there had been a high probability that this may happen for a while. On a positive note, a healthy Absher, while not Schrauth, is still a starting caliber guard and ND will also be looking for Will Black to take a big jump this year. Assuming Jagusah gets backs into playing shape, ND can still field an OL with exceptionally high upside in 2026.

LT: Knapp
LG: Absher
C: Craig or Otting
RG: Jagusah
RT: Lambert

OR

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

OR

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

Still lots of good combinations that ND could field in 2026 and the good news is that ND has 6 highly winnable games, featuring three Big 10 opponents, to start the season, prior to their game against Miami. That should give the unit plenty of time to gel and work out the kinks, while solidifying the best combination to protect Carr and open up the run game.

If Black is the dude some think, I love option 2 (could flip the rg and rt here too)

 

[rtrn2glory]

Honestly I think you put Jagusah at tackle..I know they didn't last spring but the tackle position is way too important to throw inexperience out there and Lambert didn't look to have the feet for it IMO

 

[IrishInOntario]

If Black is the dude some think, I love option 2 (could flip the rg and rt here too)

Yeah, ND certainly isn't limited to the three combinations I posted. Those were strictly interesting ideas. I didn't even mention Matty Augustine, who could also join the combination. Assuming that nobody else transfers out, ND should have 8 players in quality competition for 5 positions next year.

I'm not somebody to downplay the lack of experience lost with the departures of Schrauth and Wagner, however, it's quite possible that Wagner was blocking a player (Black) that has higher long term upside and the loss of Schrauth could be the catalyst for Knapp moving inside. If not, you could do a lot worse than a healthy Absher, who battled a back injury all of last year.

 

[notredomer23]

And unless ND is tripling that 85% outside the cap, they are not competing at the top in NIL.

Not sure where you’re getting OSU’s revenue cap because their cap is $20.5MM and $18MM of that is going to football. This is effectively the same as ND.

The beat has essentially said ND knows no true NIL Cap. They just signed a class that by all rankings metrics is better than OSU’s and let’s assume 5 stars are the ones that require the most NIL- ND signed 4 to OSU’s 1. The OSU sample size of retaining pro players is literally just 2024’s season- they haven’t been successful with it in others.

If you want to continue to believe ND is not competing in the top NIL, yet they are still outcompeting essentially every team around them considering the perceived lack of resources, that’s your perogative, but it’s not accurate to the reality of the situation.

 

[Old Man Mike]

High quality OLinemen were finally demonstrated even to the stupid media to be PRIME value in the NFL this year. Many teams failed in LARGE part because the OLine got injured. Schrauth is very high upside Guard quality (tough as hell, great hands, and big brains.) He'll get drafted and play.

As to our line: I believe that if healthy, Craig will stay at center. The staff seems to rate his ability to organize the line pre-snap very highly. Otting is probably also good at this, but the staff picked Craig over him this year and Coogan last. That part of the job is a big deal.

There is also a predilection of coaches to not shift positions if it's a close call. So, that would point to Knapp// ... // Craig// Lambert// ....
If THAT was true then assuming Jagusah is ready (I'm trying very hard to wish us a Joe Moore level line) he can go either place. If "five" is Black, then maybe Jagusah is in for Schrauth. If "five" is Abshur, then Jagusah is probably in for Wagner. The flip of him and Lambert in that option might be the estimate of whether guard or tackle is harder on the injured arm.

All of this is pretty ignorant on my part, but I write this just to indicate that I believe that this thing is really unsettled and complex, AND that it is likely that our OLine will kick ass whatever way we go. Jagusah MUST be ready if we're going to be REALLY elite though, and that means not playing with a still-risky arm break. He has to think that he can do everything he used to do in wrestling with that arm, because all of his body instincts are programmed with "just doing it" as a whole body in (violent) harmony.

 

[RudyVerse]

Not sure where you’re getting OSU’s revenue cap because their cap is $20.5MM and $18MM of that is going to football. This is effectively the same as ND.

The beat has essentially said ND knows no true NIL Cap. They just signed a class that by all rankings metrics is better than OSU’s and let’s assume stars are the ones that require the most NIL- ND signed 4 to OSU’s 1. The OSU sample size of retaining pro players is literally just 2024’s season- they haven’t been successful with it in others.

If you want to continue to believe ND is not competing in the top NIL, yet they are still outcompeting essentially every team around them considering the perceived lack of resources, that’s your perogative, but it’s not accurate to the reality of the situation.

I’m not speaking to OSU cap at all, just their total NIL budget. A&M has highest in the 50s, OSU and other schools right behind them per Jon Brice.

Again, everyone is welcome to not believe Brice if they have reasons to.

 

[NDMatt91]

Are we trying to talk ourselves into Jagusah ever being ready? Serious question.

I think the staff will tinker with rotations and be ready for the possibility that he won't play much, if at all. I mean, how can you? He has barely played during his first 3 years. They have to prepare for the worst case scenario, and I believe they will. What that means for Lambert and Black, I have no clue. Gun to my head, I'll trust that the praise for Black from the beat is shared by the coaching staff.

LT: Knapp
LG: Absher or Jagusah (if healthy)
C: Craig
RG: Lambert
RT: Black

 

[IrishInOntario]

Honestly I think you put Jagusah at tackle..I know they didn't last spring but the tackle position is way too important to throw inexperience out there and Lambert didn't look to have the feet for it IMO

It really depends on how Black, Lambert and even Augustine look as tackles. All of them have steryoptical builds for it and experience playing the position prior to arriving at ND. I think Jagusah can probably play either OT or OG, so you see what you have in the other players and then plug-n-play Jagusah where he's needed.

I'm really curious to see what the ND staff does with Anthonie Knapp. Dude is an elite run blocker and would likely be a stud at guard, something that might be extremely useful with the departure of Schrauth, another excellent run blocker. I wonder if it might not be tempting to have an interior of Knapp-Craig-Jagusah bullying people off the ball. In order to do that, however, you'd be a putting a ton of faith in not one, but two young tackles to protect your franchise QB. I think that it's more likely that ND leaves Knapp out at tackle, so they only have to break in one new tackle at a time, and can focus on getting that player help from. The TE and RB as required.

 

[pumpdog20]

Probably got tired of waiting for MF to re-sign.

 

[IrishInOntario]

Are we trying to talk ourselves into Jagusah ever being ready? Serious question.

If it's actually true that Jagusah is dealing with nerve damage as a complication of two surgical procedures, then it's genuinely concerning that his availability (including long term) may be in doubt. But I've not heard anything to suggest at this point that his playing career is ultimately in jeopardy, therefore, I'm going to continue to pencil him as a 2026 option in ND's top 8 until I hear reason to believe he's not.

 

[Irishnuke]

That's a bummer and maybe not the wisest decision, but we'll be okay.

 

[Dale]

Undoubtedly a loss for ND in 2026, but there had been a high probability that this may happen for a while. On a positive note, a healthy Absher, while not Schrauth, is still a starting caliber guard and ND will also be looking for Will Black to take a big jump this year. Assuming Jagusah gets backs into playing shape, ND can still field an OL with exceptionally high upside in 2026.

LT: Knapp
LG: Absher
C: Craig or Otting
RG: Jagusah
RT: Lambert

OR

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

OR

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

Still lots of good combinations that ND could field in 2026 and the good news is that ND has 6 highly winnable games, featuring three Big 10 opponents, to start the season, prior to their game against Miami. That should give the unit plenty of time to gel and work out the kinks, while solidifying the best combination to protect Carr and open up the run game.

Any thought to Craig at OG over Absher? I think Otting > Absher and Craig will be rehabbing an injury (again). If he’s fine it frees up Lambert/Jagusah freedom at OT. Craig has more than adequate OG size.

 

[NDMatt91]

I think it would be wise to monitor the portal in case a Guard who is better than Absher becomes available.

 

[NDVirginia19]

Are we trying to talk ourselves into Jagusah ever being ready? Serious question.

Do you jerk yourself off to being a grumpy fucking loser? Serious question.