Notre Dame: Jarrett Grace feels Jarron Jones' pain

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SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Jarrett Grace is well-versed in the frustration that comes with missing a season due to a serious injury.

The Notre Dame graduate student linebacker, who missed the second half of 2013 and the entire 2014 season after breaking his tibia and fibula in multiple places against Arizona State on Oct. 5, 2013. Grace’s recovery was brutal — he had to essentially re-learn how to run and wasn’t pain-free until this summer — but after going through it, he was able to lend some advice to Irish nose guard Jarron Jones, who tore his MCL and will miss the entire 2015 season.

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Jones had just worked his way back to practicing after suffering a season-ending foot injury last November, too. Grace said he spoke with Jones after the latest season-ending diagnosis was handed down.

“Jarron was gonna have a huge role for us this year, not just as an impact player on the field, but he was really growing as a leader as well, because he'd already fought through some adversity, he'd played in big games and he was talented,” Grace said. “But I told Jarron, I said: Look, man, you can contribute to this team so much still. Just because you're sidelined, it doesn't minimize your role. You can just really reach out to all these young guys, you can just offer insights to the guys who are gonna be filling in for you, and I told him, I said: I know you've been hurt before, and I know that sucks, and I know it's unfortunate you have to sit out an even longer time, but I'm here for you. Everybody's here for you. Joe is here for you. All these other guys.

“We want him to know that we care and we love him, he's one of our brothers, and it sucks that he's out. But we want him to feel free just to be as much of this team as he wants to be."

Grace talked about staying positive during his rehab process, which included a switch in defensive coordinators (from Bob Diaco to Brian VanGorder) and en entirely new scheme being put in place. When Grace was injured, Joe Schmidt hadn’t emerged as a leader, let alone a solid player, on the Irish defense. Jaylon Smith was still a freshman, while the team’s defensive leaders included Louis Nix, Stephon Tuitt, Dan Fox and Bennett Jackson.

[NBC SHOP: Gear up, Notre Dame fans!]

Staying upbeat wasn’t easy, Grace said, but he said he’ll relay to Jones how he was able to push through his lengthy injury rehabilitation.

“You rely on the little things,” Grace said. “For me it was seeing my teammates, seeing the success of the team and although you're not contributing in the way you'd like, you can still contribute, you can still see the result of that contribution. It's not always sunny and rainbows everyday, don't get my words twisted there, because sometimes it sucks. But you set yourself up for small victories along the way.

“For me it was taking that first step, it was being able to do so much weight on a machine in the rehab room, it was being able to actually go through FSA in practice. You set yourself up for these small victories, and it kind of snowballs. And I'll talk with Jarron about that, just setting yourself up for these victories, it keeps your positive energy going and going.

“Because if you look at the big picture, it's daunting. You can't tackle it all at once. You just set yourself up for one hurdle at a time and you just keep that going."

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