Talented freshman cornerback Shaun Crawford tore his ACL at practice on Wednesday and is lost for the season. Brian Kelly made the announcement Wednesday night via the sports information department.
Crawford was one of the young standouts in fall camp, impressing with his aggressive coverage skills and nose for the football. Both he and fellow cornerback Nick Coleman had been singled out by Kelly for their fine work during fall camp.
The injury will preserve Crawford’s freshman year of eligibility, meaning he’ll essentially redshirt. The Irish have now suffered two significant injuries on the defensive side of the football with Crawford joining veteran defensive tackle Jarron Jones with serious knee injuries.
While the injury robs the Irish of a potential playmaker, the secondary is well equipped from a depth perspective. Grad student Matthias Farley is also a slot cornerback, the place where Crawford projected to help immediately. Starters Cole Luke and KeiVarae Russell will man the outside spots with sophomore Nick Watkins providing immediate depth as well.