Marcus Freeman shares how Avery Davis can still lead through injury

Marcus Freeman is leaning on wide receiver Avery Davis, even though the Notre Dame star hasn’t been his full self since suffering a knee injury last season. As the wide receiver yearns to get back into game-shape for the season, Freeman elaborated on how Davis — a returning team captain — can continue to lead while rehabbing.

“I’m sure Coach [Chansi] Stuckey leans on him heavy,” started Freeman. “You know, I like to get sometimes the pulse of the team from Avery, being a returning captain. Him and J-Pat (Jarrett Patterson) — your two returning captains — are both injured. And so, I put a lot of ownership on them. Hey, your job is still to be a leader. You’re not even out there in practice, but how can you lead as a captain. So, they’ve been great, man.

“They’ve been sounding boards for me. They’re working hard, trying to get back to, obviously, being able to play and contribute. But they’ve been doing a great job.”

Earlier this year, Davis decided to return to Notre Dame for a sixth season, taking advantage of an extra year of eligibility. Last season, the star wide receiver caught 27 passes for 386 yards and four touchdowns, but missed the final four games of the season due to a torn ACL suffered against Navy.  

Nevertheless, it’s evident Marcus Freeman values Avery Davis and his ability, both on and off the field. As the wide receiver continues to work back from his knee injury, he’ll look to make his impact felt regardless.

Marcus Freeman wants competitors: ‘It’s the only way to get better.’

Continuing, Marcus Freeman said that Notre Dame must continue to compete at a high level with competition at every position – on both sides of the ball – because that’s the only way the Fighting Irish will continue to make strides.

“It’s the only way to get better,” Freeman told reporters. “If there isn’t competition, we’ve gotta create competition. We have to find ways to push these kids. They’re all competitors, so if they’re not competing, they’re really not going to push theirselves to their ultimate limit. I want to see that. I want to see offense, defense within your own position pushing each other – but then the ability to get everybody to become a team.

“You have to be a team. You have to compete – offense and defense, but we’ve gotta be a team. I’ve been happy with it. … I’ve been happy with the competition, I’ve been happy with us continuing to progress as a team, but we still have a ways to go.”

Notre Dame still has two weeks of spring practice remaining before wrapping up the period with its annual Blue vs. Gold spring game on Saturday, April 23 at Notre Dame Stadium. From now until then, Freeman – who is tasked with filling the void that now-LSU head coach Brian Kelly left – has made it clear that he wants to see his players continuing to put in work as they progress.