Notre Dame RB Devyn Ford leaves game with apparent head injury, won't return
Notre Dame running back Devyn Ford went down with an apparent head injury on a kickoff return in the first quarter of the Fighting Irish’s game against Tennessee State on Saturday. The university announced Ford will not return to the game.
Ford was popped on the play by TSU’s Zachery Drake. There was definite head-to-head contact, but it appeared Ford might’ve initiated some of it on his own accord. The play was still worthy of a review for targeting, but the officials elected not to go there.
Ford stayed down on the field for quite a while. He was eventually propped into a sitting position by a few team trainers. After there there for a short time, he eventually popped up, sprung to his feet and jogged to the sideline under his own power.
Later in the game, Notre Dame safety Antonio Carter was ejected for targeting, much to the dismay of Fighting Irish faithful inside the stadium. Carter did lunge at the TSU ball carrier, though, and he led with his head, even if he did hit the player’s shoulder pads first.
Notre Dame won’t need Ford in the second half anyway. The Irish built a 35-3 halftime lead. They scored a touchdown every time they had the ball. Quarterback Sam Hartman was the catalyst in that; he went 14-of-17 and two touchdowns with a leaping rushing touchdown added for good measure.
In the ground game, junior running back Audric Estimé had 7 carries for 70 yards and a touchdown. Freshman tailback Jeremiyah Love opened the scoring with a 36-yard touchdown. Before his injury, Ford had one carry for three yards. Carter’s lone tackle was the one on which he was flagged for targeting.
Hartman’s day was done after just one half of work. He was replaced by sophomore Steve Angeli, who handed off to Estimé on his first snap of the afternoon. Angeli’s first pass was completed to sophomore wideout Tobias Merriweather.
Unless the Irish go even further into the depth chart and give freshman Kenny Minchey his first appearance in a Notre Dame uniform, Angeli will likely get to play out the entirety of the second half. Prior to Saturday, he had attempted just one pass in his career. He began the afternoon 2-for-3 for six yards.
Check back with BlueandGold.com for an update on Ford’s injury status from head coach Marcus Freeman after the game.
