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Notre Dame Football: Kelly Updates Media On Team Health Following USC

By Andrew Hall

SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 21: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish shakes hands with head coach Clay Helton of the USC Trojans after a game at Notre Dame Stadium on October 21, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame won 49-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
SOUTH BEND, IN - OCTOBER 21: Head coach Brian Kelly of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish shakes hands with head coach Clay Helton of the USC Trojans after a game at Notre Dame Stadium on October 21, 2017 in South Bend, Indiana. Notre Dame won 49-14. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /
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The Fighting Irish absolutely dismantled USC on Saturday, 49-14. Amazingly, the Notre Dame football team played without a few of its best players including Dexter Williams, Cam Smith and Greer Martini. Irish Head Coach Brian Kelly updated the media during his weekly teleconference on Sunday. Here are some updates on the health of team as well some other topics.

Dexter Williams, Greer Martini, Cam Smith Expected Back For NC State

Dexter Williams, perhaps Notre Dame’s most explosive Running Back, struggled to stay healthy in the first half of the season. Last night, he did not play despite being dressed in pads. Kelly said that the Junior Running Back should be available for NC State.

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Another hobbled Irish player is Linebacker Greer Martini. Martini suffered a knee injury during the preparation for USC. After an arthroscopic surgery, Martini sat against the Trojans. Martini should be back against the Wolfpack. However, after Te’von Coney’s performance on Saturday, he likely comes off the bench.

Cam Smith, who began the season as a starter, suffered a hamstring injury prior to the Southern Cal game. Smith is also expected to return. Like Martini, the grad transfer Wide Receiver finds himself behind a few ascending players like Chase Claypool and Kevin Stepherson.

Two Back Sets More Frequently

One of the more underrated performance on Sunday came from Tony Jones Jr. The Sophomore Running Back put on a clinic against the Trojans. He only ran the ball 5 times for 37 yards. However, he contributed by blocking extremely well.

Many of these blocks came with him and Josh Adams on the field. The victorious Head Coach said that the Irish will utilize these types of sets more frequently. With Jones healthy, Offensive Coordinator Chip Long can use these formations more often. If the USC game is any indication, these sets will be extremely effective.

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