Although not playing on New Years Day 2020, Notre Dame still receieved good news Wednesday as Northwestern captain, senior transfer Bennett Skowronek announced he will be enrolling at Notre Dame this spring and using his final year of eligibility there in the fall.
Skowronek, a 6-4, 215 pound receiver is coming off a senior season at Northwestern that saw the captain play just three games before suffering an ankle injury that sidelined him the remainder of the season.
Love Thee ☘️ @NDFootball pic.twitter.com/KzXyvfDvPA
— Bennett Skowronek (@BSkowronek10) January 2, 2020
Notre Dame is banking on Skowronek’s ankle being fully healed, something Matt Fortuna from The Athletic says those in South Bend are confident in.
In 6-4 Bennett Skowronek, Notre Dame feels it has another big body on the outside for Ian Book, who loses top target Chase Claypool. The Irish are also confident Skowronek’s ankle is back to 100% after surgery in 2019. Skowronek was one of Northwestern’s best athletes pre-injury.
— Matt Fortuna (@Matt_Fortuna) January 2, 2020
Skowronek’s injury happening in just the third game of the 2019 season makes him eligible for 2020 despite having played in four separate seasons already at Northwestern.
Skowronek pulled down 45 receptions as both a sophomore and junior for the Wildcats, finding the end zone eight times those two years. He was also named to the All-Academic Big Ten Team both years. He isn’t just a fit because he’s a Midwestern guy from a good school, he’s got extremely big play ability when healthy.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gpO90UsJE4Q&w=560&h=315]
That play sealed the deal for Northwestern’s only Big Ten West title in school history but he was also responsible for over 1200 yards of offense for a pretty pedestrian offensive unit.