SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame’s postseason already has its first surprise.

It just didn’t come at the position most expected.

As the Fighting Irish staged their first practice in full Sun Bowl prep mode Saturday after a string of developmental workouts, freshman offensive lineman Charles Jagusah held down the starting left tackle position vacated by unanimous All-American Joe Alt. After playing five snaps all season at guard — all in the blowout of Stanford last month — the highest-rated member of Notre Dame’s freshman class is set to make his first career start in the final game of the season.

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Charles Jagusah is Notre Dame's no-frills O-lineman of the future

That’s an incredible rise for the former state championship heavyweight wrestler from Rock Island, Ill., who underwent lower-body surgery last offseason to recover from a high school injury. The surgery set Jagusah back during the summer, but he’s since looked like the former national prospect Notre Dame thought it was signing from Alleman Catholic a year ago.

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“He’s got natural ability. We noticed that in recruiting. We noticed that when he got here,” coach Marcus Freeman said. “There was just not a need at that moment for him to play for us. We had a pretty good left tackle start for us all year.”

Tosh Baker and Aamil Wagner remain in competition to start at right tackle, with Jagusah seemingly beating out both for reps on the opposite side. Notre Dame’s other new starters against Oregon State won’t be as inexperienced — other than quarterback Steve Angeli. Jack Kiser will step in for Marist Liufau at linebacker. Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price will take over for Audric Estime at running back. And some combination of Jaden Mickey and Christian Gray can rotate in place for Cam Hart.

That means Al Golden’s defense — aside from returning all four defensive coaches — will likely have 10 of its usual starters ready for Oregon State, which is down two quarterbacks, a 1,000-yard running back, its leading receiver, top tight end and best offensive lineman. For how much turnover has been part of Notre Dame’s offense, the Irish defense might look a lot like the group that entered bowl season 10th in scoring defense, fifth in yards per play allowed and first in pass efficiency defense.

Opt In-N-Out: Quarterback edition

Sam Hartman opted out when Notre Dame didn’t expect it. CJ Carr enrolled extra early, taking part in his first practice Saturday. Riley Leonard isn’t here, and Freeman can’t mention him by name. And Angeli will start against Oregon State in the Sun Bowl, but there’s no thought to a rotation with Kenny Minchey.

That pretty much covers it at Notre Dame’s most volatile and important position.

It would all be a lot less newsy if Hartman chose to play the final game of his college career in the Sun Bowl, which Freeman planned on heading into the postseason. But with both tackles, Alt and Blake Fisher, opting out, plus two relatively new starters, center Ashton Craig and right guard Billy Schrauth — in addition to the turnover at tight end and running back — it’s not hard to see Hartman’s point of view.

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Freeman didn’t engage on why Hartman had a change of heart.

“You’d have to ask Sam,” he said. “He talked to the people that he felt are important in his life and made the decision that he felt was best for him. As I’ve told all the guys that have opted out, I can disagree with your decision and still support you.”

Hartman’s exit forces the Irish to move forward with Angeli, whose first start will come under adverse circumstances on an offense that might be down to two starters who ran out with the first team in the opener against Navy in Dublin. It’s why Freeman is less concerned with evaluating Angeli — taking Leonard from the portal suggests that evaluation already occurred — than putting the sophomore in a position to have success.

The returns of Jayden Thomas, Deion Colzie and KK Smith at receiver might help. But it’s hard to see a trio of receivers who haven’t played meaningful football in at least two months as a cure-all. A hamstring injury has limited Thomas to 42 snaps and two catches since the Louisville game Oct. 7. Colzie hasn’t played since Central Michigan on Sept. 16 with a knee injury. And Smith has missed the entire season after shoulder surgery.

“More than an evaluation is trying to put him in a position to have success,” Freeman said of Angeli. “That’s our job as coaches.”

As for Carr, he can’t play in the Sun Bowl, but he’s at least begun the orientation process of life in South Bend. Carr took part in meetings Friday and attended training table Saturday before practice. Carr’s family has also purchased a home near campus.

“It was like the first day of school — you’re the new guy,” Freeman said. “Today he was slinging the ball around. He’s gonna be a great player. I’m excited for the future of CJ Carr.”

Irish settled with returning roster, for now

The tumult of college football’s calendar is hardly complete, but it’s at least on pause.

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Notre Dame is still without a head strength coach, with Freeman conducting interviews since the regular-season finale. Coaching moves could happen at any moment. But when it comes to the actual roster, Notre Dame knows what it will have in the Sun Bowl.

Freeman didn’t explicitly say linebacker JD Bertrand and defensive end Javontae Jean-Baptiste will play in the bowl game, but he said all opt-out announcements have been made. Bertrand and Jean-Baptiste haven’t made one, which indicates they’ll play in the game. Kiser, Rylie Mills and Howard Cross will play in the game and have announced plans to return next season. Xavier Watts has also said he’ll play in the bowl game, but he’s yet to commit to next season.

“I feel getting back yesterday we have clarity in our roster,” Freeman said. “Clarity in who our opponent is.”

In total, Notre Dame had 11 players enter the transfer portal after the season and six players declare for the NFL Draft with plans to skip the bowl game. Beyond Hartman, Estime, Alt and Fisher, the Irish also lost Liufau and Hart to the draft.

The 17 defections call into question what the future of bowls could be outside of the College Football Playoff when it expands to 12 teams next season. If the Irish qualify next season, they’d have opened the postseason this weekend as the Notre Dame campus closes for winter break.

“For those teams that don’t make the 12-team playoff, you’re gonna have to see how many guys you have to go with,” Freeman said. “For me as a head coach, any time you get a chance to compete, I want to compete. You only need 11 on each side of the ball and some specialists to do that. But you gotta be smart too as a head coach.”

(Photo of Marcus Freeman: Ken Ruinard / USA Today)