Notre Dame’s Rudolph to miss rest of season
Notre Dame Fighting Irish tight end Kyle Rudolph will undergo season ending surgery on a torn hamstring on Friday 15 October. Rudolph suffered the injury during the team’s win over the Pittsburgh Panthers on Saturday 10 October and will likely need at least
six months to recover.
The youngster was a key cog in the Fighting Irish’s offence and was considered by many to be a top National Football League prospect. The hulking tight end registers at 6’6” and 265 pounds. Rudolph is only a junior and therefore has the option of coming
back for a final season with the team. Although he is considered among the top tight ends in college football and is likely to be selected in the 2011 NFL draft, he may chose to return to the NCAA in order to improve his chances of being selected in the early
rounds.
Notre Dame will miss the impressive youngster, as they have finally seemed to have gotten their passing game on track. The Fighting Irish started off the season slow, losing three of their first four games. However, they have won their last two games and
are now the nation’s 19th ranked passing team.
In addition to Rudolph, the club’s leading rusher Armando Allen Jr. suffered a hip flexor and is uncertain for the team’s game against the Western Michigan Broncos on Saturday 16 October. Allen, a senior, has accounted for 448 yards on the ground, earning
two touchdowns.
The loss of Rudolph coupled with the injury to Allen could be devastating for Notre Dame. Fortunately, the club has an easy game coming up against Broncos, but will want to have Allen back to full health when they take on fellow independent, Navy on 23 October.
This season with the Fighting Irish, Rudolph managed 28 receptions for 328 yards and three touchdowns.
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