Blue & Gold Illustrated: America's Foremost Authority on Notre Dame Football
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Injury Updates With junior Sam linebacker James Onwualu out with a grade two MCL injury, sophomore Greer Mar‑ tini served as the starter against Boston College while fifth‑year senior Jarrett Grace was the backup. "[Onwualu] was coming on," Kelly said. "He was playing his best football. Against Pittsburgh, he was aggressive off the edge, had a sack. He's gone from being a very good cover‑down backer to somebody that was tackling effectively. "And probably as big a loss in special teams — he's an outstanding special teams player for us as well. So he will be sorely missed. Hopefully we get him back here in a couple weeks." With the physical nature of Notre Dame's final two opponents — Boston College and Stanford — Kelly thought Martini and Grace might offer a benefit there in combatting that style of play. "I think we'll get fundamentally sound football," Kelly said. "Both those guys are very conscientious players and both can play in space. Greer, I thought, did a very nice job as a cover‑down linebacker for us against Wake. Wake was in virtually all spread sets. He was out over a No. 2 receiver for virtually the entire game. "When they get into more two‑tight‑end sets, Jarrett Grace will get the lion's share of the play. But we'll use those two as a tandem in the loss of James Onwualu." Among the trio of concussed players that missed the 28‑7 win over Wake Forest, senior running back C.J. Prosise and sophomore tight end Nic Weishar re‑ turned to practice during the week leading up to the game at Fenway Park, but sophomore defensive lineman Daniel Cage was not cleared for action against the Eagles. Kelly also provided updates on three long‑term injuries: • Junior tight end Durham Smythe has been out since the second week of the season, but Kelly said Nov. 17 that he could be available for the postseason, just as senior nose guard Jarron Jones might be. Smythe was originally thought to be out for the season with shoulder and knee injuries. • Junior running back Tarean Folston suffered a season‑ending knee injury on the seventh snap of his 2015 campaign, but he is "making really good progress," per Kelly. "It's hard because you've got to keep up with [sophomore safety Drue] Tranquill, who is a freak in his rehab. But he's matching him. And it's great to have those guys on similar paths relative to the surgery because Tarean now has to have a bar, and it's Tranquill. And Tranquill is a little bit ahead of him." Tranquill suffered a season‑ending ACL injury in the 30‑22 win over Georgia Tech Sept. 19. When asked whether there is reason to believe Folston might opt for the NFL Draft rather than return for his senior season, Kelly replied: "He has not indicated to me that he would not be back." — Andrew Owens UNDER THE DOME Junior Sam linebacker James Onwualu (No. 17) suffered a grade two MCL injury versus Wake Forest Nov. 14 and missed the Boston College contest Nov. 21. PHOTO BY BILL PANZICA