Max Redfield‘s disappointing junior season will end on a fitting note. Notre Dame’s starting safety was sent home after violating a team rule in Arizona, leaving the Irish without another defensive starter against Ohio State.
Brian Kelly announced the news Tuesday, a move that’ll likely force fifth-year defensive back Matthias Farley into the starting lineup one last time in his final collegiate game. Kelly also revealed that junior Devin Butler broke his foot during Monday’s practice, taking another projected starter out of the Fiesta Bowl lineup. Sophomore Nick Watkins will make his first start at cornerback, the third starter at the position after KeiVarae Russell‘s broken leg.
Redfield’s season started off with promise. After playing a strong Music City Bowl against LSU to end the 2014 season, the former 5-star recruit was named to Phil Steele’s first-team preseason All-American team and he played well against Texas. But Redfield tried to play through an early-season broken hand that might have contributed to some poor play, as he took limited snaps against UMass, Navy and USC before playing nearly every snap to close out the season.
Redfield is expected back in 2016, a projected starter along with Cole Luke in the secondary. There is no timetable yet on Butler’s foot injury.
UPDATE: Redfield released the following statement on Instagram:
Max Redfield (h/t @MikeMonaco_) pic.twitter.com/4PHpjYgKX2
— Andrew Owens (@_Andrew_Owens) December 30, 2015