Clemson football: Oppo research – Notre Dame loses another running back

A periodic look at what’s going on with the opponents on the 2022 Clemson football schedule.

Likely the only game Clemson football will be underdogs in during the 2022 regular season will be the November 5 tilt in Notre Dame, Indiana.

After a season chock full of injuries of their own in 2021, the Tigers are hoping for better fortunes in the 2022 campaign, but the Irish are off to an inauspicious start in the injury category, losing their second running back of the summer when freshman Jadarian Price ruptured his Achilles tendon in offseason training.

Sophomore Logan Diggs previously injured his shoulder and his return is unknown, leaving the Irish with three healthy scholarship running backs, a dangerously thin number.

Notre Dame still has talent in the backfield, but the depth is a concern.

The cupboard is not bare.   Audric Estime was a top 250 player and Chris Tyree in the top 100 in the 247 rankings, but Estime had only 7 attempts as a freshman last season, while Tyree has 129 carries in two seasons as a backup.

Still the depth is not where you want it at a major college program for a position as important as running back is in the college game, especially with the offense Notre Dame runs.

"In modern college football, that is not enough. Not when a turf toe sidelined Tyree for chunks of 2021. Ponder a sprained ankle to Tyree or Estime in mid-September. Suddenly Notre Dame would have only the other and a yet-to-practice freshman to lean on. Late September could include a blowout at North Carolina, but the Irish would have only walk-ons to offer mop-up carries. More likely, Tyree or Estime and Payne would need to salt away the win."

Even worse news for the Irish is instead of opening the season with a team of the Toledo ilk, instead they face a road trip to another city in Ohio – Columbus – to face the Ohio State Buckeyes on September 3.