Notre Dame has announced that sophomore running back Kedren Young and sixth-year tight end Kevin Bauman have suffered season-ending injuries.
Young suffered an ACL injury after having a strong start to camp. This is Bauman’s third significant knee injury in the last four years.
Notre Dame has depth at both positions, but both players entered fall camp looking to increase their roles and move up the depth chart.
Young, who played in seven games last year, totaled 116 rushing yards and one score as a freshman. The Texas native drew high praise from running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider for his development over the last six months and was expected to challenge for the No. 3 or No. 4 running back role this season.
“He's a kid that's easy to gravitate to because you see this big body with a lot of talent,” Seider said last week. “We're trying to get him to understand that your time is now. I want him to always approach the game like he's going to be a starter because I think that kid has a bright future and it's sooner rather than later.
“I think he had a great spring to the point where he elevated and pushed the room. He's a kid that's ready to play, not game one ready to play, but he's physically capable to play and hold his ground."
The Irish will still have the explosive two-headed monster with Jeremiyah Love and Jadarian Price, but now the competition between Aneyas Williams, Gi’Bran Payne and freshman Nolan James Jr. will ramp up even more.
Bauman’s career has been derailed by unfortunate injuries dating back to his redshirt freshman year, when he broke his fibula. In 2022 and 2023, Bauman suffered ACL injuries and his career never had the chance to really take off.
It’s a tough blow to a room that needed his veteran leadership on the field, but Bauman can still provide in the tight end room and in the locker room.
“I'm a big believer that if you have a relationship off the field, it helps to build your relationship on the field,” Bauman said. “If we're laughing with these guys, we're spending, obviously, 13, 14, 15 hours a day together. Just building our relationship, constant conversation, having fun with it and obviously just putting in the work out on the field is how we do it.”
Notre Dame’s tight end depth now hinges on Arkansas transfer Ty Washington, who must quickly adapt to a new offense, as well as young talents Jack Larsen (sophomore) and James Flanigan (freshman). Junior Cooper Flanagan is still recovering from an Achilles injury suffered in the Sugar Bowl, with no set return date.
Head coach Marcus Freeman emphasized flexibility in timelines for injured players like Flanagan and offensive lineman Charles Jagusah:
“There’s not a hard date that we’re going to say ‘this is the game they’ll be back’, but they’ll be back this year,” Freeman said of Flanagan and Jagusah. “It’s a progression, but we don’t want to put a timeline on it,” Freeman continued. “We don’t want to say this is the exact game they’re going to be back, because with rehabilitation, it can all change based on how they’re progressing.”
The Irish could consider shifting a player from another position. Preston Zinter, now a defensive end, excelled at tight end in high school and could be a blocking option if the staff decides to bolster depth.
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