Countdown to kickoff: Notre Dame vs. Ohio State only 52 days away
To preview one of the most anticipated games for Notre Dame this century and the official start of the Marcus Freeman era, BlueandGold.com is counting down the days to the matchup against Ohio State on Sept. 3.
This daily series of 99 stories celebrates by the numbers some of the most notable names, dates, moments and memories related to the past and present of Notre Dame football.
Today, with 52 days remaining until kickoff, we look at two players who wear the No. 52 who could play huge roles for the Fighting Irish in 2022.
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A potential starting center
BlueandGold.com reported earlier this week that three-year starting center Jarrett Patterson is slated to relinquish his duties and make way for senior Zeke Correll in the middle of the Notre Dame offensive line. Less than a month before the season starts, it stands to be that way.
Correll has made starts at center before against North Carolina and Alabama in 2020. He started six games at left guard in 2021 but was clearly not up to the Notre Dame standard for that position. Patterson is eyeing an NFL future at guard, so the swap even makes sense from the fifth-year senior’s point of view.
Correll might not be one of the best five offensive linemen on the Notre Dame roster. But he might be one of the top-two centers, with Patterson being the other. If Correll is just as good at center as Patterson, or slightly inferior at the worst, and Patterson can play guard better than anyone else on the team (to be determined) then what offensive line coach Harry Hiestand has in the works could be a genius move.
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Expect to see No. 52 manning the middle against Ohio State.
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A potential starting middle linebacker
Expect to see No. 52 manning the middle against Ohio State on defense, too.
Bo Bauer is back for a fifth season, and he finally isn’t behind Drew White on the depth chart at Mike linebacker. He has to contend with senior J.D. Bertrand, who moved over from Will linebacker with the return of Marist Liufau, but he’s in a position to perhaps get the most snaps he’s ever received in a single season.
Bauer and Bertrand will likely split reps, but one of them could emerge as the go-to option. It’s entirely possible that’s Bauer, even if Bertrand led the team in total tackles (102) last season. Bauer is versatile, generating 4.5-plus tackles for loss and at least one sack and one interception in each of the last two seasons. He defended five passes last year, which tied for No. 2 on the Notre Dame roster. His combination of run-stopping awareness, quarterback pursuit and pass defense might be the best of all the Notre Dame linebackers.
