The Notre Dame football team's offensive line was considered one of, if not the best, unit in the country coming into the season. For the most part, it's lived up to the hype after some early bumps in the road. But at the same time, the Irish are looking to beat a formidable USC opponent; they're now also looking to find a way to replace starting center Ashton Craig.
Craig went down during the North Carolina State game last Saturday, and at the time, it looked like it might be a significant problem. It turns out it was indeed a severe problem.
Notre Dame turns to Joe Otting after season-ending injury to Ashton Craig
On Monday, Notre Dame head coach Marcus Freeman divulged that Ashton Craig will miss the remainder of the season due to a left knee injury for the second straight season. In his place, the Fighting Irish will first turn to the man who replaced Craig during the game against the Wolfpack, redshirt sophomore Joe Otting.
A fourth-year junior with 12 career starts, including the first six games this season, Craig was injured on the Irish's final offensive play of the third quarter in their 36-7 win over N.C. State.
"Your thoughts go to the young man who worked so hard from last year after three games to get himself back into the position he was in this year," Freeman said. "He was playing extremely well for us. It’s just unfortunate for him. You just feel bad for the kid, but we’ll be good. We have to continue to move forward."
Otting, a 6-foot-4, 308-pounder from Topeka, Kansas, had been on the field for a total of 114 offensive snaps across nine games before Saturday. Otting played the final 20 snaps against the Wolfpack, including a 10-play, 72-yard touchdown drive.
Otting did exceptionally well when protecting quarterback CJ Carr from the pass rush. Of those 20 snaps he played, 8 were pass plays, and he didn't allow a single pressure. According to PFF, he finished with the third-best pass block grade (77.3) of anyone on the team.
Now the relatively green center will need to find a way to push around a USC team that has new playoff life, while his own Notre Dame football program will attempt to stay on the postseason track.