Notre Dame junior running back Tarean Folston suffered a torn ACL in the first quarter of Saturday’s 38-3 win over Texas and will miss the remainder of the season, coach Brian Kelly said Sunday.
Folston underwent an MRI Sunday morning that revealed the extent of his injury, which will require surgery in the next 10 days. The Cocoa, Fla. native was consoled by teammates while having his knee wrapped on the Irish sideline and, after gingerly ambling off the field in the first quarter, was seen on crutches after the game.
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Folston was poised to be the focal point of Notre Dame’s rushing attack this fall after gaining 1,378 yards on 266 carries with nine touchdowns in 2013 and 2014. He carried three times for 19 yards before getting hurt against Texas.
With Folston out, Notre Dame increased redshirt junior C.J. Prosise’s workload (20 carries, 98 yards) and inserted true freshman Josh Adams (five carries, 49 yards, two touchdowns) into the offense. Fellow freshman Dexter Williams earned seven carries with the second-team offense in the fourth quarter and gained 24 yards.
"We like the guys we’ve got. That’s football," Kelly said. "We’re certainly disappointed for Tarean, he’s worked so hard to get where he is. But ... that’s why you try to develop depth in your program."
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Still, Folston’s injury is a blow to a running back depth chart that lost former five-star recruit Greg Bryant to a junior college and Cam McDaniel to graduation since the end of last season.
“25 is my man,” quarterback Malik Zaire said, referencing Folston's number. “Just got to do it for him, got to do it for us. … He's going to be with us. He's a big part of our team and he's going to keep encouraging and teaching the young guys.”
Additionally, graduate student safety Avery Sebastian suffered a broken bone in his foot against Texas will miss four to six weeks, Kelly said.