MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. – Christian Gray, junior cornerback for Notre Dame football, went down in a heap after a leaping pass breakup early in the second quarter of Sunday’s 27-24 loss to Miami.
Gray walked off with the training staff, then sat out just one play – which went for a 28-yard touchdown pass – before returning to finish the game. Gray played 69 of a possible 70 defensive snaps against the Hurricanes.
“I thought it was his shoulder, which he previously hurt,” Irish coach Marcus Freeman said. “I think he got punched or hit in the (neck). I knew he would be all right. I love Christian Gray. … He’s a tough dude. I knew he was coming back.”
Sophomore nickelback Karson Hobbs played 21 total snaps, spelling Alabama graduate transfer DeVonta Smith at planned intervals on a 77-degree night with 91% relative humidity. Likewise, redshirt freshman safety Tae Johnson (nine snaps) and junior safety Luke Talich (14 snaps) saw playing time as well.
“We have a lot of capable guys that can help us win,” Freeman said. “You have to play them. You have to play them in this type of environment, this type of game, in the heat. This is going to help them throughout the season. … I’m glad those guys were able to get in and perform in a big environment like this.”
Here’s a look at the offensive and defensive snap counts vs. Miami, according to Pro Football Focus:
Offensive line
60-Billy Schrauth, Aamil Wagner, Ashton Craig
51-Anthonie Knapp
33-Guerby Lambert
27-Sullivan Absher
9-Styles Prescod
Quarterback
60-CJ Carr
Running backs
47-Jeremiyah Love
15-Jadarian Price
1-Aneyas Williams
Tight ends
58-Eli Raridon
1-Ty Washington
Wide receivers
56-Jordan Faison
49-Malachi Fields
39-Jaden Greathouse
21-Will Pauling
12-Micah Gilbert
1-KK Smith
Cornerbacks
70-Leonard Moore
69-Christian Gray
37-DeVonta Smith
21-Karson Hobbs
1-Mark Zackery IV
Safeties
67-Adon Shuler
56-Jalen Stroman
14-Luke Talich
9-Tae Johnson
Linebackers
57-Drayk Bowen
36-Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa
35-Jaylen Sneed
29-Jaiden Ausberry
Defensive line
46-Boubacar Traore
37-Jared Dawson
36-Jason Onye
33-Donovan Hinish
31-Bryce Young
30-Gabriel Rubio
25-Josh Burnham
18-Junior Tuihalamaka
9-Jordan Botelho
2-Elijah Hughes
1-Loghan Thomas, Armel Mukam
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: How did Notre Dame football distribute snap counts in 27-24 loss to Miami?
Reporting by Mike Berardino, South Bend Tribune / South Bend Tribune
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
