Notre Dame CB TaRiq Bracy Healthy & Focused on Stopping Spencer Rattler
Notre Dame cornerback TaRiq Bracy didn’t arrive in the Jacksonville area until late on Monday evening as he and other players experienced travel delays on the way to the Gator Bowl.
The fifth-year senior was present on Tuesday’s practice and is ready to end his Notre Dame career on a positive note after missing the USC game.
“It was more of a game-time decision,” Bracy said of missing the regular season finale. “It was very disappointing not to play with my teammates and play in a big game like that. The game is over, so we’re just really focusing on South Carolina right now.”
South Carolina quarterback Spencer Rattler has been the focus of the Irish defense over the last month as the junior has thrown for 2,780 yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2022.
Rattler has an NFL arm as he can make every throw and possesses the ability to make plays few can make. The good news for Notre Dame is they have seen better quarterbacks this year in Drake Maye, CJ Stroud and Heisman winner Caleb Williams, so they know what it takes to have success against an elite arm.
“He’s a dual-threat quarterback,” stated Bracy. “He has a strong arm and he makes a lot of plays for South Carolina. It’s going to be a big test for us. We’ve played a lot of good quarterbacks this season, so he’s another quarterback we have to prepare for.”
Notre Dame will be without senior cornerback Cam Hart on Friday as he’ll miss the game with a shoulder injury. Bracy will move to cornerback from nickel, but it will also give a chance to some of the younger cornerbacks to get valuable playing time.
“The young guys like Jaden Mickey and Chance Tucker, they’ve been able to step up,” Bracy said. “They’re going to be a big part in this win on Friday.”
Speaking of the nickel position, Notre Dame will get a chance to look at Bracy’s potential replacement on Friday.
“Ramon has been playing a lot at it - Clarence Lewis, they’ve been able to do a good job,” stated Bracy. “My advice to them is to watch a lot of film. You have to stay in the film room, especially playing slot corner - that nickel position.
“It gets a little tricky. My advice is to trust your technique and the film room. Those two things are really going to help.”
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