Marcus Freeman provides injury updates for important Notre Dame football players.
Several Notre Dame football players are returning to summer workouts after long-term ailments. The latest is junior running back Gi’Bran Payne, who had ACL reconstructive surgery immediately after the Blue-Gold Game on April 20.
In an interview with local reporters on Friday, Irish head coach Marcus Freeman provided an update on the status of those players, including junior cornerback Benjamin Morrison and senior tight end Mitchell Evans.
“[Head football athletic trainer Rob Hunt] was very pleased with the surgery,” Freeman informed me. “It was simply a clean ACL tear. There is no further structural damage. It’ll take at least six months to recuperate, but I’m not ready to call him out for the season.”
Gi’Bran Payne has successful ACL surgery; not necessarily out for the season.
Interestingly, Freeman did not rule Payne out for the full 2024 season. He does not know when the rotational running back will be able to play again, but returning at the end of his junior season is still an option.
“[Head football athletic trainer Rob Hunt] was very pleased with the surgery,” Freeman informed me. “It was simply a clean ACL tear. There is no further structural damage. It’ll take at least six months to recuperate, but I’m not ready to call him out for the season.”
In Payne’s absence, graduate student Devyn Ford will return to running back. He worked with the safeties during spring practice and is listed on the official roster as a safety, but he’ll revert to his natural position to give Notre Dame five scholarship running backs this season.
Freshman Following Payne’s injury, Irish running backs Kedren Young and Aneyas Williams will have the opportunity to play right away. Young’s hamstring ailment slowed him throughout spring training, but he should be ready for autumn camp.
“I’m confident in the freshmen,” Freeman added. “Aneyas had a really terrific spring, and you wish you could have seen more of Kedren, but I believe Kedren adds a skill level that some of the other men in that room probably don’t.
“He’s a big, powerful runner. We haven’t seen it in person. I’ve seen it in high school. You can see him physically, he looks like that, but I think he’ll bring that powerful element to that running back room.”
Benjamin Morrison to be ‘partial participant’ for summer workouts, start of fall camp
When Notre Dame announced Morrison underwent shoulder surgery this spring, the team also said it expected him to return for the 2024 season. Freeman said Friday that Morrison will be a ‘partial participant’ in summer workouts and at least part of fall camp in early August.
Freeman expects Morrison to be fully cleared at some point close to Notre Dame’s season opener at Texas A&M on Aug. 31.
“I don’t know when that date is, but it won’t be for the start of fall camp,” Freeman said.
Three injured Notre Dame players — including star tight end Mitchell Evans — will be ready for fall camp
Freeman expects Evans, graduate student tight end Kevin Bauman and sophomore defensive tackle Armel Mukam to return for fall camp (which begins July 31). Evans and Bauman are recovering from torn ACLs, while Mukam is recovering from a torn labrum.
None of the three will be 100 percent cleared for summer workouts, Freeman explained, but they’re expected back by the time Notre Dame begins ramping up for the season.
“Kevin is a little bit ahead of Mitch, just because the surgery was before his, but they should all be ready for fall camp,” Freeman said.
Gabriel Rubio will return to Notre Dame this summer
Rubio was expected to return for summer workouts after missing spring practice to attend to a personal matter. Freeman confirmed that Friday afternoon.
“Gabe Rubio will be back this summer, part of the team,” Freeman said. “Ready to roll.”
