Notre Dame, coming off a dramatic season-opening victory, will probably be with out one among its prime receivers when it faces Northern Illinois on Saturday in South Bend.
Sophomore Jordan Faison, the previous walk-on who had a breakout freshman marketing campaign in 2023, suffered an ankle
sprain within the 23-13 victory over Texas A&M when he was pulled down from behind in Faculty Station, Texas.
Final season, Faison had 19 receptions for 322 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Irish coach Marcus Freeman mentioned Monday that Faison, who can be a
lacrosse participant, will miss 1-2 weeks after catching two passes for 12 yards within the 23-13 win over the Aggies on Saturday.
“We’ll see over the following week how he improves and when he’ll be capable to come again,” the third-year Irish coach mentioned.
With out Faison, one of many core six receivers the Irish anticipated to contribute considerably this season, No. 7 Notre
Dame (1-0) will flip to redshirt freshman KK Smith to be part of the receiver rotation for the primary time in his collegiate profession.
Smith, a three-star recruit within the 2023 class, didn’t play in a recreation as a real freshmen, however the Irish coaches imagine he has a brilliant future.
“He was a man that we mentioned, ‘Hey, he might probably get within the recreation versus A&M,’ and he ended up not getting within the recreation,” Freeman mentioned. “However we’ve got plenty of confidence in KK.”
Freeman additionally talked about true freshman Micah Gilbert, a four-star recruit, as a participant who may see some sudden snaps with Faison out in opposition to Northern Illinois (1-0).
Evans on the mend
Along with Faison, one other of Notre Dame’s pass-catchers can be enjoying at lower than 100%. Tight finish Mitchell Evans, a preseason All-American who’s coming off an ACL tear that lower quick his 2023 season after eight video games, was solely cleared to play in opposition to the Aggies per week earlier than the sport and was very restricted in fall camp.
Consequently, he was on a restricted snap depend in opposition to Texas A&M and should ramp up because the season progresses. Sophomore Cooper Flanagan, who began in Evans’ place on the finish of final season, acquired further reps Saturday due to the veteran’s limitations and caught two passes for 25 yards.
“Every week he’ll proceed to extend his workload,” Freeman mentioned of Evans, who caught 29 passes for 422 yards and a landing final 12 months. “It’s an extended season. So, we’ve acquired to ensure that we give him the most effective alternative to succeed all through the whole thing of the season.”
Fired-up Freeman
Freeman was extraordinarily animated within the tunnel previous to the sport at Texas A&M’s Kyle Subject, shouting at his gamers, leaping up and down and dealing the Irish right into a frenzy earlier than they ran out on the sphere.
It was an uncharacteristic pregame present of emotion for Freeman, who normally saves his rawest depth for when the Irish have a victory in hand. On this case, he mentioned Monday, he was making a calculated play to bolster the arrogance of younger offensive linemen Anthonie Knapp and Sam Pendleton, who have been about to make their first profession begins in entrance of greater than 107,000 hostile followers.
“It’s their first time,” the coach mentioned. “They’re freshmen and so they’re enjoying this huge setting. It’s nearly you go into father or mother mode and also you need to take that strain off of them. Put it on me. Let’s go man, that is what we talked about. I bear in mind proper in that second saying ‘We’re proper right here. That is what we confirmed you within the conferences.’ … I didn’t need them to have any concern.”
“My spouse despatched me that video and I used to be in all probability slightly bit uncontrolled,” he added, smiling. “It was intentional (at one level).”
IU’s McCulley ailing
Indiana All-Massive Ten receiver Donaven McCulley left the Hoosiers’ season-opening 31-7 victory over Florida Worldwide early within the second quarter after taking an enormous hit, went to the locker room and didn’t return to the sport.
Coach Curt Cignetti didn’t give a particulars Monday on the precise harm McCulley suffered or precisely how lengthy he could be out, however advised the problem won’t be a long-term one for the senior.
“I believe we’ll have him again quickly,” the first-year IU coach mentioned. “Proper now I might say it’s extra each day. … We acquired him in there, and he was enjoying quick, doing a pleasant job, and took a success and was dominated out. He’ll be troubled to get again, and I’ll be troubled to get him again.”
IU performs host Friday to Western Illinois, which misplaced 54-15 to Northern Illinois on Saturday.