Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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www.BLUEANDGOLD.com NOV. 20, 2021 11 UNDER THE DOME Captain Avery Davis To Miss Remainder Of Season Avery Davis sat on the Notre Dame bench with a towel draped over his head and around his shoulders in the fourth quarter versus Navy. He wore a look of dejection. The graduate student wide receiver came across like a player with bad news to bear. Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly was the bearer of that bad news two days later. Kelly said Davis tore his ACL against the Midshipmen. "Unfortunately, we've lost Avery for the season," Kelly said. "I'm very disappointed for him. He was having a great season." Davis, a team captain, caught 27 passes for 386 yards and four touchdowns. He also had three rushing attempts for 19 yards. Davis recorded at least two catches in every game this season except against Florida State in the season opener. His loss leaves Notre Dame with just five healthy scholarship receivers. Davis was Notre Dame's most reliable receiver. He played 497 snaps this season, the most of any Fighting Irish wideout through nine games. He also had the highest offensive grade per Pro Football Focus of any of Notre Dame's top three wide receivers (in addition to Kevin Austin Jr. and Braden Lenzy). Kelly said freshman Lorenzo Styles will move to the slot to replace Davis. He has played 90 snaps this year and seen his role increase in recent weeks. Kelly also hinted at an increase in snaps for fellow freshman Deion Colzie. The 6-foot-5 Colzie has worked at boundary receiver and could play at the same time as Austin, with the latter moving to the field. Freshman Jayden Thomas will move up from the scout team and take reps in practice to give the main crop of pass catchers a breather. He has not played in a game this season. Davis' injury is the latest in-season attrition at a position that began the year thin on numbers. Senior Lawrence Keys III entered the transfer portal after playing five snaps in the season opener. Sophomore Xavier Watts moved to safety, where he got his first defensive snaps of the season against Navy. Senior Joe Wilkins Jr. was lost for the season with a knee injury sustained against Cincinnati. — Tyler Horka Davis suffered a non-contact injury near the end of Notre Dame's 34-6 victory against Navy Nov. 6 and will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER CRAFTED IN IRELAND Scan To Shop Collection Shop NDBookstore.com, FREE Pick up In-Store. Gear made with Love and Tradition