Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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10 SEPT. 11, 2021 BLUE & GOLD ILLUSTRATED UNDER THE DOME BREAKOUT CANDIDATE MARIST LIUFAU SUFFERS SEASON-ENDING INJURY Marist Liufau's spring season and fall camp offered plentiful evidence that his late 2020 surge had stay- ing power. The junior linebacker 's in- creased comfort in the Notre Dame defense showed up in August in the form of disrup- tive run defense and havoc as a blitzer. Liufau was consis- tently around the ball in both fall camp practices that were fully open to the media. He displayed hard-to-miss decisiveness and confidence. And as a result, he had established himself as the likely starter at Will linebacker this year. "Marist would tell you he played outside the lines a lot and that was one of the things he had to get better at," head coach Brian Kelly said earlier this month. "He's stronger. You see what he looks like. All those other things are coming together. "He's a versatile player. He can pass rush off the edge. He can cover guys. He can play inside. He can do a lot of things for us." Notre Dame will have to wait a while to unleash this version of Liufau in games, though. Liufau suffered a broken ankle in the scrimmage portion of Notre Dame's Aug. 25 practice. He is expected to miss the entire season, according to his head coach. "It was a break and a dislocation," Kelly said, "so it was a fairly significant injury." Liufau's absence leaves the Irish without one of their rising defensive playmakers. But the linebacker room has the depth to replace him with another capable option, junior J.D. Bertrand. Notre Dame's opening week depth chart listed Bertrand as the starter at Will linebacker. "Outstanding production," Kelly said of Bertrand. "Tough, smart, assignment correct, athletic — he has all the tools to play at a high level at that po- sition. We lose a very versatile player in Marist, there's no doubt about it, but Bertrand is an out- standing football player as well." After playing fewer than 40 defensive snaps last year as the No. 3 middle linebacker, Bertrand rose up the two-deep to earn that chance with a pro- ductive fall camp himself. He passed senior Shayne Simon, who split Will linebacker duties with Liufau a year ago. Bertrand had been taking second-team snaps at that spot prior to Liufau's injury. Liufau totaled 22 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks in 10 games last year. He started three times. His best showing came in a Nov. 27 win at North Carolina, when he totaled five tackles and 0.5 sacks off the bench. His blitzing also caused problems for the North Carolina offense even when he didn't make a tackle or sack. A native of Hawaii, the 6-2, 229-pound Liufau was a three-star recruit in Notre Dame's 2019 class. — Patrick Engel NOTRE DAME REVEALS 2021 GAME-DAY HEALTH GUIDELINES Fans attending games at Notre Dame Stadium this season will not have to show proof of vac- cination or a negative COVID-19 test for entry, the university announced. "With Notre Dame's vaccination rates as high as they are, our campus is one of the most pro- tected places in our country," Notre Dame director of athletics Jack Swarbrick said in a statement. Swarbrick added Notre Dame asks its guests to "help us keep our community safe by being fully vaccinated prior to coming to Notre Dame Stadium and our area," but again — it is not a require- ment for fans at this year's games to be vaccinated. Vaccinated fans will not be required to wear a mask in outdoor seating or around stadium concourses either. Non-vaccinated attendees are "expected" to wear masks at all times. Masks are required by everyone — vaccinated or not — while inside campus buildings, including indoor spaces in Notre Dame Stadium. "We will continue to monitor campus, local, state and national conditions to best protect our students, staff and attendees." Swarbrick said in his statement. "On a weekly basis, we will re- evaluate our game-day policies and make applicable changes to protect our community." The university also announced tailgating in on-campus lots will return this season. Campus tail- gating lots will open at 8 a.m. ET for the first two games of the season against Toledo on Sept. 11 and against Purdue on Sept. 18. Times for subsequent games will be determined at a later date. The Player Walk will also make a return this season, as well as Football Fridays At The Eck. A student-centric pep rally open to the public will take place prior to the home opener, too. The university reminded fans tickets will be digital this season. Notre Dame's home opener against Toledo will be streamed exclusively on Peacock. The uni- versity announced a special introductory offer of $2.50 per month for the first three months. — Tyler Horka Game-day staples such as tailgating in on-campus lots, the pregame Player Walk and Football Fridays At The Eck have returned to Notre Dame this year. PHOTO COURTESY NOTRE DAME ATHLETICS LIUFAU