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Notre Dame LB Nolan Ziegler available for Louisville game

IMG_7504by:Jack Soble•10/05/23•

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COLLEGE FOOTBALL: APR 23 Notre Dame Spring Game
Notre Dame linebacker Nolan Ziegler (42) in action during the Blue-Gold Game on April 23, 2022 at Notre Dame Stadium in South Bend. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire)

After missing the first six games of the 2023 season for personal reasons, Notre Dame sophomore linebacker Nolan Ziegler will be available for Week 6 at Louisville. That’s according to Irish head coach Marcus Freeman, who updated Ziegler’s status during his weekly Zoom press conference Thursday.

This is welcome news for Notre Dame, as Ziegler had been dealing with what Freeman described as a mental health-related issue.

“He’s on the travel roster,” Freeman said. “He’ll be there. I don’t know if he’ll get in the game or not, that will be determined by situations within the game, but he’s ready to go if the opportunity presents itself.”

Ziegler, who plays the middle (or “Mike”) linebacker position, had been unavailable for Notre Dame since early in fall camp as he dealt with a personal issue. Freeman said midway through camp that the four-star prospect from the class of 2022 had been around the team, at least at times, throughout his absence.

The Grand Rapids (Mich.) Central Catholic graduate attended home games against Central Michigan and Ohio State, but he did not dress for either game.

Freeman provided an update on on Ziegler on Sept. 7, when the second-year Notre Dame head coach said the sophomore LB remained unavailable. He also shined a little bit of light on what Ziegler has been going through.

“It really relates to mental health,” Freeman said. “He’s progressing, but he’s just dealing with a personal issue.”

On Monday, Freeman opened the door to Ziegler playing for the first time this season.

“He possibly will be back this week,” Freeman said.

The sophomore had been practicing on Notre Dame’s scout team and in individual drills, beginning the week of the Ohio State game, Freeman announced Sept. 28. Irish special teams coordinator Marty Biagi said Tuesday that the 6-foot-3, 234-pound Ziegler has factored into the special teams mix as well.

“I think he can bring a physicality in a big-sized body where — especially late when you get into the season, the aches and the pains start to add up on people, there’s almost a freshness where it’s like ‘Hey, this guy can cover a kick. He can get in and go rush a punt,’ and have a bigger-bodied presence that you’re looking for,” Biagi said.

Ziegler’s teammates, like graduate linebacker Marist Lifau, have been thrilled to have the sophomore back at practice these last couple weeks.

“It’s great,” Liufau said. “It’s great to have him back. Obviously I’m happy that he’s back with us, back around us and in practice. I think it’s great for him. It allows him to get better. He just brings a positive attitude every day. He’s just another guy out there working with us and pushing us and learning all together. He just brings up the room.”

Ziegler played in one game, a 44-0 win over Boston College on Nov. 19, during his freshman season in 2022.

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