Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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12 OCT. 12, 2019 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME SHAUN CRAWFORD OUT THREE TO FOUR WEEKS In addition to losing senior drop end Daelin Hayes for the season versus Virginia, fifth-year senior cornerback Shaun Crawford suffered a gruesome dislocated left elbow — yet was expected to return either later in October or possibly for the five-game November slate, according to head coach Brian Kelly. Considering Crawford's past health setbacks, the news had some sense of relief because he had been shelved all of 2015 and 2018 with preseason ACL tears, plus the final 11 games of 2016 when he suffered an Achilles tear. Per Kelly, Crawford suffered four torn ligaments in his elbow versus Virginia, but was out of his sling a few days later. Crawford had been the sixth-leading tackler through the first three games and recorded an interception. Against Virginia he added two more tackles plus one pass broken up. • Sophomore wide receiver Braden Lenzy did not play against Virginia after going through concussion protocol, but was expected to be back in action for the Bowling Green game Oct. 5. He is the No. 2 X wideout, behind junior Michael Young. • Sophomore slot receiver Lawrence Keys III was ruled out for the Bowling Green contest because of an injury reportedly to his heel. — Lou Somogyi Senior drop end Daelin Hayes will be sidelined the rest of the 2019 season because of a torn labrum suffered early in the 35-20 win over Virginia Sept. 28. Shortly thereafter, he revealed in his Instagram account that he will return in 2020 as a fifth-year medical redshirt. "I am blessed to have had the opportu- nity to suit up for this university with the greatest brotherhood I've ever known," Hayes wrote. "I am even more blessed to have been granted an opportunity to return next year for my fifth year. God willing, I promise to give everything I have to serve my brothers on this team and the University of Notre Dame." Part of the deepest single corps on the team, Hayes graded out with high marks through the first three weeks in the rota- tion but suffered his injury on his initial play of the first quarter during the 35-20 victory versus Virginia. Beginning last year, the NCAA passed a rule that now allows players to apply for a fifth season if they appeared in only four games at any point of the sea- son. The game against the Cavaliers was the fourth this season for Notre Dame, which makes Hayes eligible to peti- tion for a fifth season. Although Hayes already has had multiple surgeries on his shoulder, the opportunity to return for a fifth season might be a blessing in disguise. A former five-star recruit, Hayes was one of five defensive ends signed in the 2016 class with Julian Okwara, Khalid Kareem, Ade Ogundeji and Jamir Jones. All but Ogundeji (who redshirted in 2016) were entering their final year of eligibility in 2019. Head coach Brian Kelly hinted in the preseason that Jones potentially could be redshirted this season so that he and Ogundeji could provide experience as fifth-year seniors at the position after Okwara, Kareem and Hayes graduate and head to the NFL. Now, it appears the roles could be re- versed: Jones — who was on the scout team during the week of preparation for Virginia — could be a regular in the rotation in place of Hayes. While replacing Hayes versus Virginia, Jones instigated the top momentum- changing play of the game. With the Cavaliers leading 17-14 and facing third- and-10 at Notre Dame's 38-yard line early in the third quarter, Jones tore around the edge and hit the arm of quarterback Bryce Perkins as he was moving into his throw- ing motion, thus dislodging the football that Irish tackle Myron Tagovailoa-Amosa returned 48 yards to the Cavaliers' 7-yard line. Two plays later, Notre Dame went ahead 21-17. "He does everything we ask him to do," Kelly said of Jones. "Great person, great teammate, works his butt off and a really, really good football player." Interestingly, the week of the Bowling Green game, the depth chart released by the school had sophomores Justin Ademilola and Ovie Oghoufo behind Okwara at drop end, plus Ogundeji and Jones behind Kareem at strongside end. Jones could play either position, but it raises the question of whether there is still an attempt to preserve a year of eligibility for him (he played in only two of the first four games). "We are here to win this year, and we'll figure it out from there," Kelly said. Hayes entered the 2019 season tied for third in most career starts on the current defense with 13, but had only one in 2018. At the time of his injury, Hayes had totaled 78 career stops, 14.5 tackles for loss and six sacks in the 41 games he had appeared. — Lou Somogyi DAELIN HAYES TO MISS REST OF 2019 SEASON WITH TORN LABRUM; WILL RETURN IN 2020 After his season-ending injury against Virginia Sept. 28, Hayes plans to return for a fifth year with the Irish in 2020. In 41 career games, he has been credited with 78 total stops, 14.5 tackles for loss and six sacks. PHOTO BY ANDRIS VISOCKIS Cornerback Shaun Crawford, a fifth-year senior, suffered yet another injury — this time a gruesome dislocated left elbow in the 35-20 victory against Virginia Sept. 28. PHOTO BY MIKE MILLER