The Notre Dame Fighting Irish barely survived with a 34-27 win over Virginia in Week 2 but they suffered a devastating blow with the loss of junior quarterback Malik Zaire for the season. He suffered a fractured ankle and backup DeShone Kizer had to come in and save the day. Notre Dame had already lost its star running back Tarean Folston after he suffered a torn ACL in their Week 1 win over Texas and now they will have to push forward without the two most talented pieces on their offense. Head coach Brian Kelly still feels his team has the potential to compete for a spot in the College Football Playoff and while they face an uphill climb, there is certainly reason to believe they can get there.
Here is a look at the three biggest reasons why the Fighting Irish can survive without their star quarterback and star running back the rest of the way this season.
Kizer Is A Capable Quarterback
The injury to Zaire forced sophomore quarterback DeShone Kizer in to the spotlight and while he dealt with some nerves on his first few snaps, he certainly bounced back and played at a very high level to lead Notre Dame to the win over Virginia. Kizer completed 8-of-12 passes for 92 yards and two touchdowns – including the game-winning score on a 39-yard pass with only 12 seconds left on the clock. Kizer’s performance was a testament to the fact that he is ready to take over the No. 1 job. Is it ideal for the Irish to be using someone who was the third-string quarterback in spring practices? No. But remember that the Ohio State Buckeyes won it all with a third-string quarterback last season, so it’s still doable.
Kelly spoke after the game about how he felt confident that the young passer can lead the Fighting Irish to a national title. Kizer is a dual-threat quarterback that has a live arm, good mobility and can make quick decisions under pressure. All eyes will be on him in Week 3 when Notre Dame hosts No. 14 Georgia Tech on Saturday.
Prosise Is A Stud Running Back
There is no doubt about what Folston brought to the table as the team’s leading rusher in 2014 but senior C.J. Prosise is ready for the No. 1 job and he proved it in last week’s win over Virginia. Prosise ran for 155 yards and a touchdown and added three catches for 20 yards. Zaire and the passing game actually struggled to get things going last week as he was 7-of-18 for 115 yards prior to the injury. It was Prosise’s prowess on the ground that kept his team in the game. He’s an explosive threat out of the backfield that can do everything the Fighting Irish will ask of him. The former slot receiver is an excellent pass catcher out of the backfield and his combination of size, speed, power and athleticism makes him exactly the type of star back that can lead the Irish the rest of the way this season.
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The Defense Is Good Enough
The Notre Dame defense made a statement in a lopsided 38-3 win over Texas in Week 1 and then did just enough on the road to beat the Cavaliers in Week 2. That being the case, Kelly should feel confident they can do just enough to help them get by. The schedule is relatively manageable with only three opponents currently ranked in the AP Top 25, including only one among the top 10. The Irish will get to host Georgia Tech and USC in addition to visiting Clemson. Kelly’s defense won’t completely shut down the top opponents on its schedule but they should be able to handle what the Yellow Jackets, Tigers and Trojans bring to the table. They’ll have to shoulder more of the burden with the losses on offense but they look capable. That’s just one more reason to expect they can remain in the BCS picture.
