On the heels of three Notre Dame Fighting Irish players done for the rest of the season, the fifth ranked Fighting Irish face another hurdle as they square off against No. 2 Florida State. The team expected to have safety and team captain Austin Collinsworth for this weekend, but a slight labrum tear in Collinsworth’s left shoulder will keep him sidelined an additional four to six weeks. Austin, son of CBS football analyst Cris Collinsworth, missed the first four games with a grade two MCL sprain just a few days before the season opener and now a different injury will keep him out against one of the premier offenses in college football.
Collinsworth, a fifth-year senior, started this past Saturday’s game versus North Carolina before sustaining the injury during the first quarter. Over the course of his career, Collinsworth has recorded 64 total tackles to go along with two interceptions. 2014 was supposed to be his breakout year, but a slew of injuries has limited his ability to achieve his full potential.
It seems the Notre Dame defense has become accustomed to playing without one of their leaders as well as many other key players. So far in 2014, the Fighting Irish have done an excellent job replacing key players after both the academic scandal and a series of injuries. Throughout the process, head coach Brian Kelly has shown the team’s fantastic depth, consistently filling major voids with young players that have proved they are ready for the bright lights of Notre Dame Stadium.
*Section Photo credit to Robert Franklin, South Bend Tribune; Featured Photo (above) credit to James Buck, Elkhart Truth
