After Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman's press conference on Monday, the Irish unveiled their latest depth chart for Saturday's regular-season finale at USC . Freeman shared key injury updates that are impacting the depth chart. And they continue to be mostly encouraging news, though there are some new additions.
The headliner in the short injury report continues to be starting nose guard Howard Cross III. Ruled out for last two games, Cross is listed as questionable for USC.
The sixth-year senior and 2023 second-team All-American suffered a sprained left ankle in a 52-3 smackdown of Florida State on Nov. 9. Freeman qualified a the time that the injury did not appear to be a long-term one.
There are three players ruled out for the USC game, but not necessarily for the the postseason. They are freshman rotational linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa (right knee sprain), deep reserve freshman linebacker Bodie Kahoun (right lower leg) and sophomore wide receiver KK Smith (collarbone surgery).
Returning from the injured list to full health is reserve grad senior running back Devyn Ford (right groin), who missed the Virginia and Army games.
Meanwhile, key backup defensive tackle Jason Onye has missed the last six games for "personal reasons" and was not listed on Monday's depth chart in the two-deeps. Freeman said the team continues to support his time away from football and that he'd be welcomed back if and when that time comes.
TV start time for the matchup between the AP fifth-ranked Irish (10-1) and USC (6-5) on Saturday is 3:30 EST on CBS.
Inside ND Sports continues to project ongoing snapshots of how the players are moving up and down the depth chart throughout the season.
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The Inside ND Sports projected depth chart goes beyond the two-deeps based on conversations with head coach Marcus Freeman, his coaching staff, players, others in the know and observations from practices.
Heights and weights were last updated on Aug. 27, the first day of fall-semester classes for undergrads. Q-Designates a player listed as questionable for the upcoming game. X-designates players who have already been ruled out for Notre Dame's upcoming game (or longer) due to injury. Y-designates a player who has been ruled out for the 2024 season or because of a committed redshirt season.
A player listed with OR after his name is in an ongoing competition with the player listed below him. Players at positions that will rotate multiple players regularly will not include an OR designation.
OFFENSE
DEFENSE
SPECIAL TEAMS
p-Denotes player listed as probable for the upcoming game due to injury.
q-Denotes player listed as questionable for the upcoming game due to injury.
x-Denotes player ruled out for at least the upcoming game due to injury.
y-Denotes player expected to miss the 2024 season due to injury.
+-Denotes player exercising extra year of eligibility through COVID exemption.
^-Rendell is guaranteed one year of eligibility by the NCAA and is petitioning for more.
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