Marcus Freeman gives positive update on Joe Wilkins

It has been a tough year for Notre Dame Fighting Irish graduate senior wide receiver Joe Wilkins. He saw his 2021 season cut short due to an injury he suffered in the Fighting Irish loss to the Cincinnati Bearcats. And in the spring, a foot injury that would ultimately require surgery sidelined him yet again. But as Notre Dame prepares for the start of the 2022 season, what is the expectation for Wilkins’s recovery? During a press conference on Saturday, Norte Dame head coach Marcus Freeman provides an update on his wide receiver’s progress post-surgery.

“He’s ahead of schedule, and that’s part of the discussion, in terms of where do we want to go offensively in that wide outs room,” said Freeman. “We expect Joe Wilkins to be back for that Ohio State game. Which, I don’t know if I would have said that last week; but he is ahead of schedule. As long as he continues to progress in the direction he’s going, we expect him back for week one.”

Wilkins was not always on the offensive side of the ball. According to On3’s consensus recruiting database, Wilkins was the No. 750 overall player in the 2018 class and was the No. 81 overall cornerback.

Despite a limited role last season, the six-foot-one Wideout was expected to play a much more significant role in Notre Dame’s offense in the upcoming season. The foot injury may have shortened his spring, but all signs currently point to Wilkins being ready to go for the start of the season.

Notre Dame WR Avery Davis out for the season with ACL injury

Notre Dame wide receiver Avery Davis can’t catch a break. Notre Dame announced Davis suffered an ACL injury to his right knee in practice last season. He previously tore his left ACL in November 2021, ending his year prematurely. The latest setback will sideline him indefinitely.

Davis posted 27 catches for 386 yards and four touchdowns in 2021 prior to the injury. His top Irish football moments came against Clemson in 2020 when Davis caught a 53-yard pass to set up a subsequent 4-yard score, tying the game at 33-33 and sending it to overtime. Notre Dame topped No. 1 Clemson 47-40 in double overtime that night.

The Texas native has played four positions — receiver, running back, quarterback and defensive back — for the Irish and made five position switches over the course of his lengthy Irish career. He had been practicing with the first team wideouts in camp thus far, although it was unconfirmed exactly where he might fit come game day.