Notre Dame starting DT Jayson Ademilola to miss Gator Bowl
Notre Dame defensive tackle Jayson Ademilola has played his final game in a Notre Dame uniform. And not by choice.
Ademilola will miss Friday’s Gator Bowl vs. No. 19 South Carolina (3:30 p.m. ET, ESPN) due to injury, head coach Marcus Freeman said Thursday. He ends the 2022 campaign with 29 tackles, 5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks in 11 games (10 starts). His absence leaves No. 21 Notre Dame (8-4) without two of its three sacks leaders. He is tied with his brother Justin for second on the team in sacks behind defensive end Isaiah Foskey, who declared for the NFL Draft and is skipping the bowl. He is out of eligibility after this season.
PROMOTION: Join for only $10 to unlock premium access until the start of the 2023 football season
Freeman did not reveal specifics of the injury. It’s the latest in a season full of nagging ailments, though. Ademilola missed the Nov. 19 game vs. Boston College with a concussion, but returned for the regular season finale at USC. He suffered a rib contusion in October, but it did not keep him out of any games.
Notre Dame could also be without senior safety Brandon Joseph (ankle), who Freeman called a game-time decision. Joseph initially sprained his ankle in November and missed the games against Navy and Boston College, but returned for USC. He has 30 tackles, 1 pass breakup, 1 forced fumble and 1 interception this season. He has started all 10 games he has played.
“He practiced all week,” Freeman said. “We’ll see how he feels.”
RELATED: More Notre Dame football:
• Notre Dame football Gator Bowl predictions: Fighting Irish vs. South Carolina staff picks
• Hey Horka! Analyzing all angles of the Sam Hartman to Notre Dame rumors
Notre Dame’s interior defensive line rotation without Ademilola includes senior Howard Cross III, grad student Chris Smith and sophomore Gabriel Rubio. Cross and Smith have started six and five games, respectively. Rubio has not started, but played 24 snaps in the Boston College game Ademilola missed. Junior Rylie Mills (eight starts) has played tackle and end this year.
At safety, Xavier Watts took Joseph’s starting spot in the two games Joseph missed and remained a starter vs. USC. He totaled 19 tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and 1 sack in those three games. Grad students DJ Brown and Houston Griffith are the most likely candidates to start in Joseph’s place if he does not play.
