Gunner Kiel
was on the Notre Dame practice fields Saturday, and after an open workout Irish coach
Brian Kelly
joked about a play in which the prized freshman quarterback admitted he “blanked” and threw into coverage and nearly cost his receiver his head.
No one will blame Kiel, though, if the haze lasts a while. His uncle, former Irish quarterback
Blair Kiel,
died suddenly last Sunday at 50. For a player from a tight-knit family — who specifically chose Notre Dame to stay close to his Columbus, Ind., home — there was no minimizing the hit.
“It’s tough,” Kiel told reporters Saturday, on a video posted by Blue & Gold Illustrated. “Losing an uncle I’m so close to, it definitely really hurt. It really hits the heart. I’ve relied on my family. … They have been strong through it all, they have been there for me.
“He’s going to be there every step of the way the rest of my career and my life. I thank God for him and for always being there for me and pushing me. It’s hard. But it’s life.”
Kiel said Kelly offered him as much time away as he needed, but that his uncle would want him to press on in the Irish’s quarterback battle. From that end, Kelly has seen no ill effects.
“He went home, obviously, to be with his family and came back locked in as usual,” Kelly said after practice. “He’s great in the classroom, great on the field. He has a great temperament and demeanor.”
And he now has a picture of his uncle in his locker to serve as a daily reminder.
“He was always there cheering us on, patting us on the back, telling us to keep your head up and have fun,” Kiel said.
Depth charge:
Kapron Lewis-Moore
slid back into a starting defensive end role with
Aaron Lynch’s
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impending transfer, and Kelly somewhat shrugged off the adjustment Lynch’s loss will force upon the line.
“You’re talking about Kapron Lewis-Moore, who is a starter,” Kelly said.
“Louis Nix
is providing the consistency that he didn’t provide earlier in the spring. … You hate to lose a good player, but when you have some pretty good depth there, you really don’t notice it.”
Extra points:
Linebacker
Prince Shembo
had surgery on his turf toe and will be sidelined for six weeks. … Receiver
Luke Massa
has an ACL injury that Kelly said likely will require surgery, idling him for five months. … Receiver
John Goodman
has an ankle sprain but should play in the spring game Saturday.