Notre Dame loses two beginning linemen for season

Adam Rittenberg, ESPN Senior WriterSep 16, 2024, 01:07 PM ET

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• College football press reporter.
• Signed up with ESPN.com in 2008.
• Graduate of Northwestern University.Notre Dame’s historical blowout

win at Purdue came with an expense, as the group lost starting linemen Ashton Craig and Jordan Botelho to season-ending knee injuries, coach Marcus Freeman said Monday.Botelho and Craig sustained their injuries on successive series throughout the 2nd quarter of Saturday’s 66-7 win, which marked the biggest margin of defeat in Purdue history. Craig had been starting at center for a new-look Battling Irish offensive line, which lost forecasted beginning deal with Charles Jagusah for the season with a torn pectoral muscle sustained early in training camp.The third-year sophomore, who hurt his left knee, began Notre Dame’s final three games at center last season and the very first three this fall. Notre Dame likewise will be without starting guard Billy Schrauth for several weeks, as he sustained a best ankle injury in the first quarter against Purdue.Botelho, who injured his right knee, had actually begun Notre Dame’s first 3 games at the viper position, a defensive end-outside linebacker hybrid area. The senior has 12 deals with, consisting of a sack, and two quarterback hurries this season.Second-year freshman Boubacar Traore is set to start for Botelho today versus Miami (Ohio), while junior Pat Coogan moves into the beginning center role and junior Rocco Spindler is set to start at right guard in location of Schrauth. “We have a lot of confidence in Pat and Rocco,”Freeman said.Starting wide receiver Jordan Faison, who sustained an ankle injury in Notre Dame’s season-opening win at Texas A&M, is “full-go”for the Miami( Ohio)game, Freeman stated

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