Irish sophomore safety Drue Tranquill will miss the remainder of the 2015 season with a torn right ACL suffered in Saturday’s 30-22 win over No. 20 Georgia Tech, Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly announced Sunday.
Tranquill, who suffered a torn ACL and underwent surgery on his left knee in November 2014, came down awkwardly from a celebration following a third-down stop late in the second quarter of Saturday’s win at Notre Dame Stadium, where Tranquill had successfully broken up a Yellow Jackets pass attempt to the end zone.
Sophomore safety Drue Tranquill makes a tackle in a 30-22 win against Georgia Tech on Saturday at Notre Dame Stadium.
After playing a backup role in Notre Dame’s first two games of the season, Tranquill was handed his fourth career start Saturday, recording four solo tackles, two for loss, during the first half against Georgia Tech’s triple option attack.
Moving forward, Kelly said he has not yet spoken with defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder about how the Irish would replace Tranquill.
“Brian and I have not had that personnel conversation yet relative to what will be the nex move that we make there,” Kelly said. “Whether we bring somebody up into that role, or wheter it’s [freshman defensive back] Nicco Fertitta, or do we have [senior safety Nicky] Baratti move? … I’m not really sure yet.”
Kelly said Tranquill’s surgery will likely happen in about two weeks, due to the Irish medical staff wanting to work prior to the procedure.
“I think Rob Hunt, our trainer, would like to rehab him a little bit first before we have surgery,” Kelly said.
The Fort Wayne, Indiana, native becomes the sixth player lost to a season-ending injury this year for Notre Dame; freshman defensive back Shaun Crawford and senior defensive tackle Jarron Jones were lost during fall practice, while junior quarterback Malik Zaire, junior running back Tarean Folston and junior tight end Durham Smythe all went down during the first two games of the season.
