SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame is expecting to get a Fiesta Bowl boost from two familiar faces who missed most or all of the regular season because of injuries.
Nose guard Jarron Jones and tight end Durham Smythe, who were both expected to be starters before knee injuries, have begun practicing with the goal of playing when the eighth-ranked Fighting Irish (10-2) face No. 7 Ohio State (11-1) on Jan. 1. Both sustained medial collateral ligament tears in their right knees that originally were described as season-ending.
“Both those guys will help us against Ohio State,” coach Brian Kelly said.