Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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BLUEGOLDONLINE.COM OCT. 15, 2022 11 UNDER THE DOME One of Notre Dame's strongest positions at the top of the depth chart has taken an- other hit on the second rung. Junior Kevin Bauman, the No. 2 tight end behind offen- sive centerpiece Michael Mayer, tore his ACL during practice Sept. 23 and will miss the rest of the season. Bauman did not play against North Caro- lina Sept. 24 and initially walked out on the field on crutches pregame. He was later seen wearing a brace. Head coach Marcus Free- man confirmed the injury after the game. Bauman's role as Mayer's sidekick gave him a prominent spot in the Irish's of- fense. He was a No. 2 in designation only and part of the game plan each of the first three weeks. He played 75 snaps over the first three games and started the opener at Ohio State. He caught 3 passes for 44 yards, with 22 of those yards coming on one catch against the Buckeyes. Notre Dame also used him on punt teams and the field goal unit. The injury to Bauman is the second major one to a tight end in the last three months. Sophomore Mitchell Evans — who was competing with Bauman for the No. 2 job this spring — suffered a foot fracture in mid-July and is expected to return at some point this season. That return is not imminent, though. Evans had not returned to full practice before Notre Dame played BYU Oct. 8. Without those two, Notre Dame has five healthy scholarship tight ends. Bauman's injury and Evans' continued absence meant an increased work- load for freshman tight ends Eli Raridon and Holden Staes. Staes started against North Carolina alongside Mayer and played 9 snaps. Raridon was in for 30 snaps vs. the Tar Heels. Raridon took over the No. 2 tight end spot on the depth chart ahead of the BYU game. Staes and sophomore David Sherwood were both listed as the No. 3. Prior to the North Carolina game, Raridon logged a combined 7 snaps while Staes saw just 2. Freeman indicated during preseason camp that both were likely to see the field this year, but perhaps not in notable roles until later in the season. That timeline is now accelerated. Sherwood is the No. 3 tight end on the depth chart and played 9 snaps over the first three games before logging 23 vs. North Carolina. Bauman was a run blocker on 55 of his 75 snaps, per Pro Football Focus. That role lends itself to more work for Sherwood, who has drawn positive reviews as a blocker since moving to tight end this past spring. Fellow sophomore Cane Berrong did not play in the first four games. Bauman (6-foot-4½, 252 pounds) was a four-star signee in Notre Dame's 2020 class out of Red Bank (N.J.) Catholic. He has 5 catches for 59 yards in 12 career games over three seasons with the Irish. A broken leg suffered in the 2021 opener at Florida State sidelined him for two months. — Patrick Engel Price Reduced Price Reduced 902 North St. Peter Street — South Bend, IN 46617 A stately Georgian style brick home, 4 blocks to Notre Dame $1,350,000 $1,200,000 Presented By Pam Dunfee Associate Broker Cell: (574) 210-3536 Office: (574) 277-7444 Email: pdunfee17@gmail.com SEE THE HOUSE https://bit.ly/NDStPeter Open House October 14 11am - 3pm October 16 1pm - 3pm Kevin Bauman Suffers Season-Ending Injury Bauman had 3 catches for 44 yards before injuring his knee during one of the Fighting Irish's practices the week leading up to the North Carolina game in late September. PHOTO BY CHAD WEAVER