Notre Dame’s sixth fall camp practice brought the focus back to the trenches, where both line groups are already dealing with the kind of competition and adjustment that can shape a season.
After practice, offensive line coach Joe Rudolph, defensive line coach Charlie Partridge, senior defensive end Boubacar Traore, and 5th year senior center Ashton Craig all talked through where things stand. The message from both sides was clear: there’s still a lot of camp left, but the work is already revealing who’s pushing forward and who’s earning more trust.
On the offensive line, Rudolph had to address a setback right away with Matty Augustine’s injury. He called it a major disappointment and made it clear how highly he views Augustine’s place in the room and on the offense.
"Obviously Matty [ Augustine ] going down was a real disappointment," Rudolph shared. "I think he's one of the better players in our room, one of the better players on this offense.
But we've had to step up every year. Guys have stepped up to do that. guys like Joe Otting is having a great camp.
Sullivan [ Absher ] really put together the last two days have been really good. I've been proud of him.
Cam Herron's been playing really well. Styles Prescod been playing really well.
So we got great competition across the board."
That competition is showing up all over the unit, with Rudolph pointing to several players who have kept the pressure on in camp.
The defensive line, meanwhile, is moving through a different kind of growth. Partridge said Keon Keeley and Armel Mukam are settling in better as the playbook expands and the practices get sharper.
"Happy with their progress," Partridge raved about the two defensive lineman. "I think they're really getting a grasp of the playbook.
We got a lot of volume in right now. I would venture to guess about 90% of our playbook is in, and they're handling it well.
So when you have a good grasp of the playbook, you're able to now focus and improve on your technique and play faster, and I'm seeing that with both of those guys."
That kind of comfort with the scheme matters now because the work shifts from learning to refining.
Craig, for his part, said he feels good as he continues his rehab and tries to stack productive days together.
"Yeah, I feel good," Craig shared about his rehab journey. "I mean, for me, it's just bettering my best every day.
Whether that's getting the individual reps or that's in the recovery room. With every practice, you're going to get better if you have a full intent into what you're doing, and I feel like that's what I've been doing."
Traore also spoke about what he’s picked up under Partridge, and the list was broad. He talked about becoming better at taking on blocks, handling pressure in tight spaces, and expanding his pass-rush toolbox.
"A lot of things," Traore shared about his growth under Partridge. "Things like striking blocks, getting crushed between the and the B gap, not letting it wind up.
As far as the pass rush, just learning different moves like pull through stuff like that. I mean he's taught me a lot of things.
Just him being here I mean he's just giving me so many tools so far and I've just been able to apply that in practice"
With camp moving along and both line groups still sorting out roles, Notre Dame’s expectations remain high. The early days have already shown that the depth chart battles are real, and the veterans are still being asked to sharpen every detail.
In Other News...
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Miami enters the new season carrying the kind of expectations that come with a team that just played for the College Football Playoff national championship. CBS Sports still views the Hurricanes as a major contender, placing them No. 7 in its preseason rankings, but that comes after a significant slide from No. 2 in the previous final rankings. The drop reflects a broader shift at the top of the sport, where programs like Ohio State, Oregon, Notre Dame, Georgia and Texas have all moved ahead on the strength of returning talent and offseason momentum.
For Miami, the biggest concern is up front, where the offensive line took a hit with several starters headed to the NFL. That kind of turnover can matter in a league race as tight as the ACC, especially for a team trying to back up a championship run and stay in the national conversation. The Hurricanes still have the look of a contender, but the preseason perception is a reminder that repeating a climb to the top is never automatic. [Read more 🡒]
Notre Dame Fall Camp Takes An Early Hit At Two Positions
Fall camp was only just getting rolling when Notre Dame took an early hit at two spots, with two young players now sidelined for the time being. Matty Augustine, a 2025 recruit who was competing for the starting right guard job, is dealing with a foot injury, while freshman cornerback Chaz Smith also has been slowed after suffering an injury of his own. Both players arrived with a chance to factor into the roster conversation, which makes the timing especially frustrating as the Irish try to sort out depth and competition in August.
The good news for Notre Dame is that neither situation appears to be season-ending, and each player is still expected back at some point during the year. Augustines injury removes him from a battle that had the potential to shape the interior line early in camp, while Smiths absence briefly thins a cornerback room that already has plenty of evaluation ahead. For now, the Irish can only wait and keep the rest of camp moving, hoping both young players are back in the mix soon enough to make an impact later in the season. [Read more 🡒]