Notre Dame football expects injured starter to return next year

Big news for the Irish in 2025

While it wasn’t the way that defensive end [autotag]Jordan Botelho[/autotag] thought his senior season would go, the good news is that the Notre Dame starter is expected to come back for one more season as head coach Marcus Freeman announced on Monday.

The Hawaiian native got off to a fast start this fall, with 12 tackles and a sack through the first three games, but he was severely injured against Purdue. It looked bad, and it turned out to be as he was ruled out for the remainder of the season.

Botelho had played in four seasons ahead of this one, but will now get a medical redshirt which gives him eligibility to play next fall. It’s big news for him to come back, as his explosiveness off the edge has been what the Irish have been lacking over the last few weeks. Hopefully, he’s full recovered by the time fall camp rolls around next year.

Notre Dame lost three starters in first half vs. Purdue to injury
Sep 14, 2024; West Lafayette, Indiana, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish defensive lineman Jordan Botelho (12) is carted off the field with an apparent injury during the second quarter against the Purdue Boilermakers at Ross-Ade Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

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