Notre Dame’s secondary is about to get another look this weekend at Purdue, and this time the Irish are turning to a freshman.
With senior Luke Talich ruled out after a left wrist injury in the win over Michigan State, freshman Joey O’Brien is in line to start opposite captain Adon Shuler, Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said Thursday. It will be the third different safety Notre Dame has started in four games.
O’Brien has handled the first-team safety reps in practice this week, with second-year player Ethan Long behind him. Freeman said the freshman has earned the opportunity.
“Joey O’Brien’s really done a great job in practice,” Freeman said Thursday Sept. 24 on his media Zoom call. “He’s a guy that we knew at any moment could go in the game last week.
He was the backup. He’s done a great job in the starting role this week.
We have a lot of confidence in what he can do.”
A five-star recruit from the Philadelphia area, O’Brien has already logged 46 plays through three games, with his time split nearly evenly between defense and special teams. His path to this point has not been smooth - he left the field on crutches after the Blue-Gold Game in late April - but he was back in time for the start of fall camp in early August.
Long is next up if Notre Dame needs him. He recorded an interception last season against Syracuse and played 15 defensive snaps with three tackles in the Week 2 shutout of Rice.
“Ethan Long will be the next guy in,” Freeman said. “He’s had a really good week. Ethan’s been a guy that’s really progressed over the year and a half he’s been here.”
Brauntae Johnson is still out as well. The third-year safety, who injured his left foot in the season opener against Wisconsin, remains a few weeks away, Freeman said.
That leaves Notre Dame leaning on its depth again, something Freeman pointed to when discussing the injuries.
“This is why you recruit, this is why you have depth and this is why young guys have to practice in a way of being ready to play,” Freeman said. “You don’t know what each Saturday is going to present. If you wait for your opportunity, it’s going to be too late.
“Those guys have all done a great job of preparing and now they’ll have the opportunity to go do it in the game.”
Talich, meanwhile, is expected back against North Carolina on Oct. 3 in Chapel Hill.
Freeman also gave updates on two other injured players. Wide receiver Quincy Porter, the Ohio State transfer who is dealing with a patellar tendon issue, had a “good week” of individual work. Freeman said the midyear enrollee has increased his volume and is still not practicing with the offense, but is moving in the right direction.
“He’s doing more than he’s ever done,” Freeman said. “He increased his volume this week in terms of what he’s been able to do.
He’s not practicing with the offense but he’s doing individual. I think he’s a couple weeks away but he’s getting closer.
We’re going in the right trajectory.”
Offensive lineman Matty Augustine, who had been competing for the top right guard job before suffering a foot injury in August, is also making progress, though Freeman did not offer a timetable.
“I don’t have a timetable, but he’s getting better,” Freeman said.
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