FORT WAYNE – Notre Dame could add another piece to its running game that racked up 293 yards in a season-opening 50-10 win over Navy in Dublin, Ireland, last weekend.
Coach Brian Kelly said Tuesday that sophomore Amir Carlisle could be available for Saturday’s home game against Purdue (1-0).
Carlisle transferred to No. 22 Notre Dame (1-0) from USC and was granted a waiver to play right away. But the 5-foot-10, 185-pounder has been slow to recover from a broken ankle he suffered in the spring.
“Amir Carlisle has been cleared to practice (Tuesday), and so he will be part of our practice rotation,” Kelly said.
Kelly said right tackle Tate Nichols, who is recovering from a knee injury, and linebacker Danny Spond, who has been held out because of migraines, will not play this week.
Nichols has been cleared to go through individual workouts, and Spond can practice but is restricted from contact. Kelly said Spond could possibly return for the game at Michigan State on Sept. 15.
Kelly also confirmed what has been expected that safety Austin Collinsworth, who had shoulder surgery in the offseason, will likely not play this season.
Pinkett suspension
Notre Dame radio analyst Allen Pinkett, a former Irish running back, will not be part of the IMG radio network’s broadcasts for the next two games.
Pinkett, who was pulled from the broadcast of the opener for comments about the team needing more bad guys to be successful last week, will basically serve a three-game suspension without pay, IMG announced.
Pinkett will miss Saturday’s home opener against Purdue and the road game at Michigan State on Sept. 15. He will return for the home game against Michigan on Sept. 22.
The network said a decision will be made later on who will accompany play-by-play announcer Don Criqui on the broadcasts of the games against Purdue and Michigan State.
In the polls
Notre Dame broke into The Associated Press Top 25, coming in at No. 22 on Tuesday after starting the season unranked.
The Irish also moved up to No. 22 from No. 24 in the USA Today coaches’ poll.
Kelly didn’t but much stock in the ranking, calling it “white noise.”
Determined Tuitt
Defensive end Stephon Tuitt said during fall camp that he wanted to be an impact player this year.
The 6-6, 303-pound sophomore was a difference maker in the opener against Navy, recording four tackles, two for loss, and returning a fumble 77 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter.
“The only word I remember him using was ‘dominate,’ ” Kelly said of what Tuitt wanted to improve on from his freshman to sophomore season.
“I think (he’s) just a very, very driven young man right now.”
