Notre Dame’s opening night was just about perfect. The 11th-ranked Irish dominated Texas, 38-3, winning every phase of the game. There was, however, one unfortunate postscript to an otherwise spotless evening.
Head coach Brian Kelly revealed Sunday afternoon running back Tarean Folston tore his MCL on Saturday night and will miss the rest of the season. The junior from Cocoa, Fla., left the game in the first quarter after rushing for 19 yards on three carries; he was seen on crutches later in the evening. Folston underwent an MRI Sunday morning and is now slated for surgery within the next week and a half.
As if losing a running back that combined for 1,378 yards on 5.2 yards a pop over the past two seasons isn’t bad enough, it’s doubly hurtful for the Irish considering running back Greg Bryant left the program after failing to qualify academically.
“That’s football,” Kelly told our own J.J. Stankevitz at CSN Chicago. “We’re certainly disappointed for Tarean, he’s worked so hard to get where he is. But ... that’s why you try to develop depth in your program.”
C.J. Prosise posted a nice showing in Folston’s stead Saturday night, rushing 20 times for a career-high 98 yards. Freshmen Josh Adams and Dexter Williams combined to rush for 73 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries.
Additionally, Kelly noted safety Avery Sebastian suffered a broken foot Saturday night and will miss the next four-to-six weeks.