Alex Bars Expected To Miss Rest Of 2018 Notre Dame Season
The cryptic tone in head coach Brian Kelly’s Sunday teleconference with the media said it all.
While he didn’t confirm with 100 percent certainty that fifth-senior left guard Alex Bars would be out for the remainder of the 2018 campaign, Kelly basically gave a concession speech while looking at contingency options at the position.
Bars was injured at the 7:25 mark of the third quarter during the 38-17 win versus Stanford. He was able to walk off the field on his power after getting examined extensively on the field, but the prognosis is grim.
“It looks like an ACL/MCL, we'll get confirmation on his MRI a little bit later,” Kelly said. “But our doctors feel the worst is possible here with the knee.”
He referred to the news as devastating.
“We're losing a captain, and we're losing somebody that is respected and revered by so many in the program,” he summarized. “And it's not just editorial on my part. I just feel so bad for the kid because he comes back as a graduate student and then you lose him. We've got other players that will go in and play and play at a high level, but to lose him in his senior year is really hard on us.”
The first option as the replacement is senior Trevor Ruhland, who stepped in for Bars versus the Cardinal but also had made his first career start a week earlier at right guard in the 56-27 win at Wake Forest when an ankle injury during the week of practice sidelined junior Tommy Kraemer.
At 6-4, 295 pounds, Ruhland does not possess the size and range of the 6-6, 315-pound Bars, a top NFL prospect, while relying heavily on correct technique and leverage (he also is the backup center to another fifth-year senior in Sam Mustipher).
“We don't have to alter our game plan or calls when Trevor's in,” Kelly said. “He's very reliable. He doesn't have the size, necessarily, as Alex does, but he brings some other strengths to the position … A really solid player, very instinctive, very smart. I think you're going to see him quite a bit in there.”
To provide more girth as a complement at left guard, Kelly said he also is looking at sophomore Aaron Banks (6-6, 319), who has worked primarily as the No. 2 right tackle behind classmate Robert Hainsey but has been knocking on the door for more playing time this past month.
Against Stanford on Saturday, Banks closed out the game at left tackle, likely in an effort to possibly save a redshirt year for freshman Jarrett Paterson, who had been listed as the No. 2 left tackle this season.
“You're going to see Banks in there as well,” said Kelly of left guard. “We're going to give him an opportunity. He's been playing really well. I would not discount having him as part of that rotation.”
Right guard is expected to remain the same with Kraemer, who was back in the starting lineup versus Stanford, and sophomore Josh Lugg.
“Right now we want to take a look at the left guard position with Ruhland and Banks,” Kelly said.
Drue Tranquill In Cast But Will Play
Another fifth-year senior captain in Buck linebacker Tranquill was injured against Stanford, but he was still able to function relatively well, although with limited use of one arm. He will be placed in a cast on Tuesday because of incurring a metacarpal fracture.
“[He] will not need to be surgically repaired at this time, so he will not miss any time for us,” Kelly said.
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