SOUTH BEND — Already missing starting center Ashton Craig (knee) this week against USC, Notre Dame football will be without one of its top interior defensive linemen as well.
Senior defensive tackle Gabriel Rubio (left arm) was ruled out for Saturday night’s game in the updated Irish injury report, released Thursday.
“We’ve had a committee at defensive tackle,” Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman said on a Thursday conference call with reporters. “Obviously, you don’t want to lose Gabe, just from experience, from production, from a veteran guy.”
Rubio, who has started eight of the last nine games for Notre Dame, has made 13 tackles this season, adding a sack, six pressures and a batted pass to his ledger.
The 6-foot-5, 321-pound St. Louis product was recently named to the Hispanic College Football Player of the Year watch list.
Rubio leads all Irish defensive tackles with 173 defensive snaps. His Pro Football Focus grades place him sixth in run defense (76.7) and fifth in tackling (80.1) on an Irish defense that has allowed an average of 9.0 points per game over its last three outings.
With Rubio out, USC transfer tackle Elijah Hughes and Louisville grad transfer Jared Dawson figure to take up the slack alongside team captain Donovan Hinish, fifth-year senior Jason Onye and redshirt freshman Cole Mullins.
“You have a lot of confidence in those guys in that room and spreading out that production amongst a couple guys,” Freeman said. “Everybody has to step up a little more: Onye, Donnie, Jared Dawson, Elijah Hughes, Cole Mullins. All those guys will have to continue to elevate their game.”
USC, ranked 21st in the US LBM Coaches Poll, is coming off a 31-13 home win over then No. 15 Michigan. The Trojans (5-1) piled up 489 yards of total offense, including 224 and two scores on the ground.
Also ruled out this week is sophomore defensive end Loghan Thomas (concussion), who leads the Irish with 101 special teams plays.
“The value he brings more than anything on special teams is something that not many people talk about,” Freeman said. “He’s a great special teams player for us and can come down there on some pass rush situations. We’re going to have to find a good replacement for that role.”
Freeman named Joe Otting the starting center after the third-year sophomore replaced Craig for the final quarter in last week’s 36-7 win over N.C. State. Freshman Cam Herron (Warren Central High School) is the backup.
Still listed as questionable for Saturday: wideout Jaden Greathouse (thigh), nickelback DeVonta Smith (calf), tight end Cooper Flanagan (Achilles) and freshman offensive lineman Will Black (concussion).
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
