ND Starting Nickelback Shaun Crawfod Out for Season with Torn ACL

Just days before the season is going to kick off we get a giant kick to our Irish nuts...

#NotreDame DB Shaun Crawford tore his ACL in Tuesday's practice. https://t.co/VQXvxuSYAm

— Matt Freeman (@mattfreemanISD) August 30, 2018

First off I feel horrible for Shaun Crawford.  This is the 3rd, yes, 3rd time he has gone down with a season ending injury either before the season started or right after.  He's battled back from a torn ACL and torn achilles to earn a starting nickelback job only to tear his other ACL on Tuesday.  Gone for the season.  Brutal.

Before we get all doom and gloom we got to remember Notre Dame has depth in the secondary.  While losing Crawford is a blow it gives a guy like senior Nick Coleman a chance to step up in Crawford's starting spot.   Coleman has plenty of experience including starting experience and by all reporting accounts has had a great camp.  Navy transfer Alohi Gilman will still start at boundary safety while Coleman mans the field safety.  Freshman Houston Griffith will get a chance for more playing time and so will Jalen Elliott who was a starter last year.  Devin Studstill and Nico Fertitta provide depth and have plenty of experience at the safety position.  Freshman Derrik Allen will also be given a chance to step it up if need be.  The corners are still loaded with Julian Love, Troy Pride, Donte Vaughn and a bunch of freshman (Tariq Bracy, Noah Boykin, DJ Brown) to provide depth.

So everyone take a deep breath.  It's gonna be ok.  It sucks to lose a kid like Crawford who is a great talent on the field and a great teammate off the field but somebody has to and will step up.  Next man in.  Go Irish!

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