Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman provides injury updates on two starting OL
Notre Dame could be without its starting center on Saturday against Wake Forest. During his Thursday news conference, coach Marcus Freeman disclosed that graduate student Zeke Correll is still in concussion protocol. Freeman gave Correll a questionable designation.
The 6-foot-3, 306-pound Correll sustained his head injury during Notre Dame’s 31-23 loss to Clemson on Nov. 4. He played 32 snaps against the Tigers. Although the injury seemingly happened 12 days ago, Correll has only participated in a non-contact capacity.
Before his injury, Correll had started the last 23 games for the Irish. He also earned the first nod six times in 2021.
Fellow graduate student offensive lineman Andrew Kristofic replaced Correll but only saw six snaps after suffering a high ankle sprain. Freeman said on Monday the 6-5 ¼, 305-pound Kirstofic was limited in practice last week. However, on Thursday, Freeman did not rule out any players on Notre Dame’s depth chart for Week 12.
If Correll and Kristofic could not go, the Irish could again lean on sophomore Ashton Craig. The 6-4 ¼, 307-pounder subbed in for both players against Clemson played acceptable against a dominant Tigers front seven.
Craig redshirted as a freshman. He has seen time as a reserve four other times this football season.
Freeman provides clarification on starting right guard Rocco Spindler’s injury
On Monday, Freeman announced that starting right guard Rocco Spindler was out for the season after injuring his knee against Clemson. On Thursday, Notre Dame’s second-year head coach clarified that Spindler’s injury was MCL-related and he did not damage his ACL.
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Spindler — who Freeman said would have surgery this week — is expected to make a full recovery within a few months and be available for spring ball. This season, the Irish began their preparation in mid-March.
At the start of the season, Spindler took over the reins for former starting right guard Josh Lugg, who moved on to the NFL. During his junior campaign, the 6-4⅝, 314-pound Spindler had started in 10 games. He only missed six offensive snaps in Notre Dame’s Week 10 game against Clemson.
This Saturday’s Notre Dame football game kicks off at 3:30 p.m. EST. The Irish will celebrate senior day and the 500th football game at Notre Dame Stadium. NBC will have broadcast coverage.
Notre Dame is 5-0 all-time (3-0 at home) against Wake Forest. The Irish last beat this week’s opponent 56-27 in Winston-Salem, N.C., on Sept. 22, 2018. They won their last home game against the Demon Deacons, 48-37, on Nov. 4, 2017.
