Notre Dame football: Texas A&M suffers massive blow weeks ahead of season opener
In less than three weeks, Notre Dame football will kick off its 2024 season against Texas A&M. With new head coach Mike Elko at the helm, the Aggies are a bit of a mystery. However, the Irish did learn one thing on Sunday.
When Notre Dame straps it up against the SEC dark horse, they won’t have to face off against one of the team’s best running backs. Rueben Owens II went down with injury last week and it’s expected he’ll be out for the season.
. ABC. August 31, 2024. Notre Dame Football vs Texas A&M. 7:30pm. 0-0. 819. 0-0. 535
Even if Owens is able to come back at some point in 2024, he will almost certainly miss the Aggies’ game against Notre Dame football. That’s a damn shame for a stellar athlete. But it could make the road to a 1-0 start a bit easier for Riley Leonard and company.
Notre Dame football opponent takes massive blow
While Elko isn’t shedding a ton of light on the injury, he issued a statement on Sunday.
“Rueben Owens suffered a lower leg injury in our scrimmage on Saturday (Aug. 10),” Elko said in a statement. “I will address his injury at my next media availability.”
That availability is scheduled for Saturday, two weeks before the season begins for Texas A&M and the Fighting Irish.
It can’t be overstated just how much of an impact Owens might have had for his team this season. As a true freshman in 2023, he appeared in all 13 games, which included five starts. Owens turned 101 carries into 385 yards and three touchdowns while catching 12 passes for 109 yards. Those numbers helped him make the SEC All-Freshman Team.
Notre Dame football and Texas A&M could share an approach
The loss of Owens means Texas A&M is down to three scholarship running backs. It’s expected Elko’s squad won’t necessarily have a workhorse and will instead have its remaining backs sharing the carries.
That’s not dissimilar to the approach that Notre Dame football could take under Marcus Freeman and new offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock. For now, the Irish don’t have anyone who has stepped up as the obvious starting running back.
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