Christian Gray tries to adapt after Notre Dame bumps him inside

TL;DR

Christian Gray is adapting to a new role as Notre Dame's nickelback after Dallas Golden's injury. Golden will miss the remainder of spring practice due to a lower back issue.

Key points

Dallas Golden will miss the rest of spring practice
Golden has a lower back sprain/strain
Christian Gray is vying for playing time
Gray is adapting to a new role
Golden played 310 defensive snaps as a freshman

Notre DameDallas GoldenChristian GrayJayden Sanders

Christian Gray tries to adapt after Notre Dame bumps him inside

SOUTH BEND — Notre Dame football will be without sophomore nickelback Dallas Golden for the rest of spring practice, coach Marcus Freeman said Saturday, April 18, after Golden missed the jersey scrimmage.

Freeman described Golden’s issue as a “lower back kind of sprain/strain/stress that we want to get calmed down.”

After playing 310 defensive snaps as a freshman, with 85% of those lined up in slot coverage or something similar, Golden is vying with senior Christian Gray and Michigan transfer Jayden Sanders for playing time as the fifth defensive back.

Golden, a Tampa Berkeley High School product, participated off and on for about three weeks of Irish spring drills before being shut down. He will miss the final three practices of the spring, including the April 25 Blue-Gold Game at Notre Dame Stadium.

“We said, let’s put him on the shelf for a little bit to let his back calm down,” Freeman said. “We think that’s going to make him better.”