By Brian Hamilton
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- First, Brian Kelly put out the welcome mat for recruits on Wednesday. Then the Notre Dame coach put out some welcome news on the status of presumptive starting quarterback Dayne Crist and his recovery from an ACL tear.
Though Crist won't be involved in any contact drills during spring practice, Kelly expects that to be the only limitation. Crist injured his knee last Oct. 31 against Washington State.
"I think he's well ahead (of schedule)," Kelly said after his Signing Day press conference. "My goal right now -- and I don't think I'm putting (trainer) Jim Russ in jeopardy at all -- I think he's going to be able to partake in virtually everything but contact.
"Nobody will get in his ZIP code. But you're going to see a lot of him in the spring."
The rest of the Irish injury news was positive, save for two notable exceptions.
SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- First, Brian Kelly put out the welcome mat for recruits on Wednesday. Then the Notre Dame coach put out some welcome news on the status of presumptive starting quarterback Dayne Crist and his recovery from an ACL tear.
Though Crist won't be involved in any contact drills during spring practice, Kelly expects that to be the only limitation. Crist injured his knee last Oct. 31 against Washington State.
"I think he's well ahead (of schedule)," Kelly said after his Signing Day press conference. "My goal right now -- and I don't think I'm putting (trainer) Jim Russ in jeopardy at all -- I think he's going to be able to partake in virtually everything but contact.
"Nobody will get in his ZIP code. But you're going to see a lot of him in the spring."
The rest of the Irish injury news was positive, save for two notable exceptions.
Tight end Kyle Rudolph, recovering from shoulder surgery, is "engaged in moving," according to Kelly, which leaves the Irish coach "very pleased with the progress."
"We're really positive in terms of all of the medicals - and I will say this, there were way too many," Kelly said. "We've got our hands around it and right now we only have two current players that are not working out with us, because of injuries.
"(Running back) Theo Riddick has not been cleared to move yet, and (kicker) Brandon Walker. Other than that, everyone is engaged in our strength training and conditioning."
Riddick is also recovering from a shoulder injury. Walker's case may be more complex. He missed the bulk of the 2009 season with a back injury that, according to whispers around the program, threatened his career.
"We're going to have to go longer to find out whether he can sustain his physical stamina through that," Kelly said. "He's got a back injury that's not going away."
"We're really positive in terms of all of the medicals - and I will say this, there were way too many," Kelly said. "We've got our hands around it and right now we only have two current players that are not working out with us, because of injuries.
"(Running back) Theo Riddick has not been cleared to move yet, and (kicker) Brandon Walker. Other than that, everyone is engaged in our strength training and conditioning."
Riddick is also recovering from a shoulder injury. Walker's case may be more complex. He missed the bulk of the 2009 season with a back injury that, according to whispers around the program, threatened his career.
"We're going to have to go longer to find out whether he can sustain his physical stamina through that," Kelly said. "He's got a back injury that's not going away."
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