Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com OCT. 10, 2020 13 UNDER THE DOME Our life plan community for those over the age of 62, provides residents with exceptional personalized services, a secure atmosphere and carefree luxury lifestyle – while making it possible to ease into further healthcare levels as needs change throughout retirement years. NOTRE DAME PERSONNEL NEWS & NOTES Chances appear promising for junior wideout Kevin Austin, considered the most talented receiver on the team, to be cleared for action by mid-October. Austin had surgery on his broken foot Aug. 3 and was projected to be out eight to 12 weeks. The six-week scan showed no setbacks, he gradually began a run- ning progression and is on the AlterG (anti-gravity treadmill). Clearance for the Oct. 10 matchup with FSU still might be highly optimistic while also getting back into football rhythm, so maybe Louisville Oct. 17 is more doable. "We'll get one more scan done in two weeks," head coach Brian Kelly said Sept. 21. "At that time, he could be cleared to begin practicing. Good progress." • After fifth-year senior Nick McCloud took all 68 defensive snaps and junior TaRiq Bracy took 66 at the two cornerback spots in the season opener versus Duke Sept. 12, Kelly emphasized the need to play more bodies at the position. The 44 snaps by sophomore Cam Hart at corner versus South Florida compared to McCloud's 14 was by design. "This was a great opportunity for him to get that work," Kelly said of Hart, who broke up two passes. "He was coming off shoul- der surgery last fall and didn't have spring ball. … We thought it was a great opportunity to dial it back [for McCloud]." • Freshman vyper end Jordan Botelho has been referred to by Kelly a couple of times already as "a quick study" with sharp football acumen. Despite a logjam at his position that includes fifth-year senior Daelin Hayes, ris- ing sophomore star Isaiah Foskey and junior Ovie Oghoufo (unavailable for the USF game), Botelho's ferocity has made him a special teams regular, where he had 13 snaps versus the Bulls to go with 18 plays on defense (including with the top unit). He nearly blocked one punt and returned a blocked one by sophomore Osita Ekwonu for a touchdown. "As you see, he plays with a reckless abandon," Kelly said. The "reckless" part, though, needs cleaning up. On his touchdown, Botelho somersaulted into the end zone in celebration and then spun the football on the ground. Both often would result in a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. "He has to continue to show some real discipline when it comes to how he handles himself on the field," Kelly said. "… [Defensive line] coach [Mike] Elston had a great conversation with him." • Fifth-year senior Javon McKinley's official position title is "wide receiver," but his identity has been with downfield and in-line blocking. At 6-2 and 215 pounds, he is generally lined up in tight next to tight ends Tommy Tremble, Michael Mayer or Brock Wright to help set the edge on the outside zone running plays. In McKinley's 100 snaps through the first two games, 52 have been running plays, on which he has a strong 87.0 Pro Football Focus run-blocking grade. "When you have a guy who's been around and is a fifth-year that is setting that kind of standard and model, it rubs off on all the other guys," Kelly said. "We have to continue to get him involved in the [passing] offense as well." Indeed. McKinley has run 46 routes this year, and they have produced merely four targets (all against USF) and one reception for seven yards. • With junior slot receiver and punt returner Lawrence Keys III unavailable against USF, Kelly opted to use junior walk-on wideout Matt Salerno in place of sophomore running back Kyren Williams, who already had a full plate. "Matt's an awesome kid," Kelly said. "When I went up to tell him he'd be the returner, I asked if he was nervous. He said, 'No, but coach, you look nervous.'" USF's punting was a mess of high snaps, shanked kicks and a block, offering Salerno just one chance to touch a punted ball and return it seven yards. "He has been effortless catching the football," Kelly said. "He doesn't have the explosiveness Kyren has, but you feel really comfortable with him back there." — Lou Somogyi and Patrick Engel KEVIN AUSTIN