Notre Dame may be dealing with another safety question after Saturday’s blowout of Michigan State, and Luke Talich’s status is now something to watch.
Talich was seen heading to the locker room late in the game and did not return to the field. It wasn’t clear whether that was simply because the outcome was already settled or because he was unable to come back.
The timing matters because Talich has already been thrust into a larger role after starter Brauntae Johnson was injured in the season opener. Since then, the former preferred walk-on has handled the job well, turning in the kind of stretch that has him playing as well as any safety in the country. Against Michigan State, he added a sack and an interception while continuing to help anchor a secondary that has been one of the nation’s best at slowing down opposing passing games.
Notre Dame has depth at the position, but that cushion only lasts so long. If Talich can’t go next week, the Irish will eventually have to keep reaching deeper into the roster.
For now, the program hasn’t offered any update on whether Talich is actually injured or if his early exit was simply precautionary. That leaves his availability for the Week 4 game against Purdue uncertain.
Purdue may be 1-2, but Barry Odom’s team has shown it can score. The Boilermakers have put up 44, 36 and 38 points this season, even as their defense has struggled badly. In their last two games, they’ve given up 38 and 52 points.
If Talich is sidelined, the likely next man in line would be freshman Joey O’Brien. He’s drawn plenty of attention this season, but his snaps have been limited so far. He played 15 snaps in the Week 2 game against Rice, his busiest outing to date, and saw only six snaps against Michigan State.
Moving O’Brien into a starting role would be a significant jump, especially if Johnson still isn’t ready to return. Even so, coaches have clearly believed he has the talent to handle more than he’s been given so far.
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