Notre Dame Football Roster Update
During Monday morning’s (June 3) annual Kelly Cares Foundation golfing event in Bridgman, Mich., Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly provided an update on the Fighting Irish personnel.
*** Foremost, all 74 returning scholarship players have reported for the summer in good academic standard — the team collectively produced its highest grade-point average (3.007) since the 2011 spring semester — and with no infractions since the end of the spring semester on May 10. The other 12 freshmen (there were also 10 early enrollees in January) will report later this month.
Undergraduate Online Courses begin today, and the six-week summer school session commences June 17.
“Nobody got caught up in customs,” Kelly joked.
He and the staff are mindful that Notre Dame is one over the NCAA maximum 85 scholarship players allowed on the team, and said there is “a pretty solid chance for a little movement,” on the roster, but was not going to get into specifics.
“I’m not going to commit to the 85 scholarships in terms of that nuance of words,” he said. “We’ll see how that kind of plays itself out.”
*** Health-wise, the main concern or question mark at this point in terms of availability this season is fifth-year senior guard/center Trevor Ruhland, who started five games at guard in 2018 and also was the graduated Sam Mustipher’s back-up at center.
Ruhland has had a long history of shoulder and knee issues that resulted in more surgery this winter and sidelined him throughout spring practice. Consequently, sophomore left tackle Jarrett Patterson was shifted to center and seized the starting role this spring.
Junior guard Joshua Lugg also began taking snaps at center and has been labeled by Kelly as the offensive line’s “Swiss Army Knife” because he would be the first option off the bench at guard, tackle or center should the need arise.
“We’ll have to see what his volume can be,” said Kelly of Ruhland. “Can he train at a level that allows him to play at the level necessary if he’s called upon to do so? We really don’t know that right now. … That’s going to evolve through the summer and maybe even camp.”
*** There have been rumors that sophomore receiver Kevin Austin might not be available early in the season because of off-the-field issues not in line with team tenets. When asked if Austin would be available for the Sept. 2 opener at Louisville, the Irish head coach remained relatively cryptic and said “we’re not going to get ahead of ourselves.”
“If he continues to do the things that we want him to do, I think we can at least have a conversation about it,” said Kelly, who did note that Austin had a good semester in the classroom and is making progress on a personal level. “We’re not at that point yet.”
*** Another receiver, senior Javon McKinley, was temporarily suspended from the team this spring because of an on-campus assault of two Notre Dame security officers back in February. He began practicing later and “had a good semester academically,” per Kelly. Because of the nature of the action that led to his suspension, McKinley has used up any potential third chance.
“He has to do things right every single day,” Kelly said.
*** Captains probably will be named prior to August. Kelly says there won’t be a record number like the seven in 2017, but not just one or two either. It likely will be a balance of maybe a couple on offense and defense.
“We need no coaches around is the last part, and let them lead their peers [this summer],” Kelly summarized.
*** No No. 1 jersey will be issued until Notre Dame regains college football’s top spot in winning percentage. It would be there now if not for the “vacated” 21 victories from the 2012-13 seasons.
*** Following the end of summer school, the players will report back on Saturday, Aug. 3, with the first practice the following day. Notre Dame will hold practices at Culver Academies Aug. 4-8 before returning to campus.
*** The new indoor facility is projected to be ready by the end of summer.
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