Notre Dame football got some good news on the injury front as offensive lineman Matty Augustine moved into the questionable-to-play category after missing the first five games of the season.
The 6-foot-7, 315-pounder might not play this weekend, but head coach Marcus Freeman appears pleased with Augustine’s progress.
“He will start practicing this week,” Freeman stated. “He did some football-specific work last week with our strength staff and medical staff, and this week he'll get into practice. He's not going to go the entire practice and every single rep, but he's going to start doing some football-specific work within practice.
“We'll determine based on how he looks on Tuesday, Wednesday, what's his availability on Saturday. Right now it's a question, but he's doing a really good job on his progression into return.”
Perhaps the biggest question Notre Dame faces is what to do with Augustine when he does return.
During fall camp, Augustine appeared to be trending toward winning the right guard spot before he broke his fifth metatarsal, paving the way for Sullivan Absher to take the job.
Notre Dame’s offensive line has been a work in progress, but it appeared to turn a corner last week in Chapel Hill. The Irish didn’t allow a sack and rushed for 241 yards against North Carolina in a game where the weather forced both teams to focus on the run game.
Still, Freeman doesn’t believe there is any risk to the chemistry on the offensive line if Augustine returns to the form he showed during fall camp. But Augustine has to get there first.
“There's no risk,” explained Freeman. “I think it's all reward. Matty Augustine's focus is to be the best football player he can be and the best offensive lineman he can be. What that means on Saturday is to be determined. We will continuously do and make decisions what's best for the team, but like there's no risk to it.
“He owes it to himself and the team to try to work his way back to being the best football player he can be. We will determine what that means for Saturdays. What is best for our team on Saturdays, but we need him to be the best football player he can be and that's what we're going to push him to be.”
The bad news was that two impact players showed up on the injury report.
All-American cornerback Leonard Moore suffered a concussion, while linebacker Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa has a thumb injury that we are told is similar to the one suffered by safety Luke Talich, who missed one game earlier this season.
Notre Dame’s linebacker rotation won’t change if Viliamu-Asa can’t go, as Jaiden Ausberry, Drayk Bowen and Jaylen Sneed are all healthy.
At cornerback, Notre Dame wouldn’t have to make many changes other than starting Jayden Sanders, who has been the team’s third cornerback this season.
“Right now, if Leonard wouldn't be able to go, it would be Jayden Sanders and DJ McKinney,” Freeman said. “Mark Zackary would be the third and (Ayden) Pouncey and Khary (Adams), all those guys would be ready to go. But that's always been our depth chart if all of a sudden, DJ goes down or Leonard goes down. Jayden would be the first corner in the game.”
Adams and Pouncey arrived at Notre Dame with big expectations after being part of the top secondary class in the country.
Pouncey has gotten playing time in a few blowouts, while Adams has been working to catch up after missing the spring due to labrum surgery.
“I really like what I see out of Khary,” Freeman said. “He's doing some scout team. What I've seen from week one to last week in terms of how he's practicing has really given me a lot of excitement for his future. He's learning how to practice the right way with consistency. He's got a ton of ability. He's got actually a ton of confidence in a good way.
“He's embracing that this is my plate. This is my role right now. The best thing I can do for myself is be the best in the role that I've been given. That's the best thing he can do for himself and not sit and complain about wanting a bigger role. I really, really like his approach to practice every day.”
Pouncey has been up with the varsity as he’s been able to cross-train at cornerback and safety.
“Pounce is up with the defense a little bit more because of some injuries, being able to play safety and corner,” stated Freeman. “But both of those guys are ascending players. They're developing a foundation right now for when they're thrust into the light.”
It’s clear both freshmen have impressed Freeman with the way they’ve attacked the fall and it bodes well for the future of the Notre Dame secondary.
“Those guys are going to be big-time football players for Notre Dame at some point,” said Freeman. “We'll be talking about the plays they make on Saturday. But you can't wait. You can't wait for that opportunity.
“I love the way they're building their foundation right now because they're going to be thrust out there before we know it and they're going to do a heck of a job.”
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