Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/214329
✦ News & notes had been practices the previous week], and I really needed to know if these guys could play." None of Notre Dame's injured players have been ruled out yet for Saturday's game. Defensive linemen Kona Schwenke, Jarron Jones and Isaac Rochell all practiced Monday after missing time in the Pittsburgh game — and in Schwenke's case, all of it. Junior Cat linebacker/end Ishaq Williams remains "day to day" with his knee injury suffered at Air Force Oct. 26. Junior center Nick Martin, who suffered a cracked knuckle in the first quarter of the Pitt loss but still played the remaining three quarters, was not even mentioned. Kelly said no one took a step backward after a long, physical day of practice. "Our training staff was pleased. … We had no setbacks from anybody that practiced," he said. "They all participated and they all contributed." Senior Salute Including walk-ons, more than 30 Irish seniors will be honored before the Brigham Young game in pregame introductions. Among them will be six fifth-year seniors: offensive linemen Zack Martin and Chris Watt, inside linebackers Carlo Calabrese and Dan Fox, nose guard Tyler Stockton and kicker Nick Tausch. There are seven fourth-year seniors who are in their final season of eligibility: quarterback Tommy Rees, wide receivers TJ Jones and Daniel Smith, defensive lineman Kona Schwenke, outside linebackers Prince Shembo and Danny Spond, and cornerback Bennett Jackson. Also introduced will be 10 seniors who will have a fifth season of eligibility in 2014. Alphabetically they are: safety Austin Collinsworth, offensive lineman Bruce Offensive tackle Zach Martin (left) and nose guard Louis Nix III (right), who are projected to be first-round picks in the 2014 NFL Draft, are among the more than 30 Irish seniors — many of whom will be playing their final game at Notre Dame Stadium — that will be honored on Saturday. photo by bill panzica ✦ Page 13 Heggie, quarterback Andrew Hendrix, offensive guard Christian Lombard, wide receiver Luke Massa, inside linebacker Kendall Moore, nose guard Louis Nix III, defensive end Justin Utupo, tight end Alex Welch and cornerback Lo Wood. Including the expected readmission of quarterback Everett Golson and 18 verbal commitments for next year's freshman class — most recently Indiana defensive athlete Drew Tranquill — Notre Dame would have 77 scholarship athletes on the 2014 roster, from fourth-year seniors to incoming freshmen. That would leave eight more spots open for the NCAA maximum of 85 to distribute either to a fifth-year senior or another recruit. Nix, a projected first-round pick, is expected to turn pro. After that, Lombard, Collinsworth, Moore and Wood might be considered the most likely to return because of experience or need, if not both. It also depends on how recruiting fares. Ironically, BYU has a team member who was signed in head coach Brian Kelly's first Notre Dame class in February 2012. Safety Chris Badger was an early enrollee for the Irish in 2010 before going on a two-year Mormon mission in Ecuardor and then returning for the 2012 campaign. He transferred this summer to be closer to his family in Provo, Utah, and received a waiver from the NCAA to not have to sit out this season. Badger has played in seven games for BYU and made six tackles (five of them last week in a 59-13 romp over Idaho State). He did not see the field during his time at Notre Dame. Kelly said that was due in part to a different system the Irish run on defense. The coach said he's not worried with Badger tipping his new teammates on the Irish defensive signals. "We've taken measures, and we're not concerned about it," Kelly said. ✦