SOUTH BEND — Already without defensive tackle Gabriel Rubio due to a left arm injury, Notre Dame football will be missing Donovan Hinish as well against Navy.
A team captain and interior defensive line stalwart, Hinish is in concussion protocol and has been ruled out against the nation’s top rushing offense for the Saturday, Nov. 8, matchup.
The fourth-year junior from Pittsburgh trails only defensive end Boubacar Traore in quarterback pressures for the 10th-ranked Irish, according to Pro Football Focus.
Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman praised Hinish this week as a “consistent person” who leads through example.
“High achievers are consistent; he consistently chooses hard,” Freeman said. “He’s a tough, tough guy battling through injuries and continually putting team first. Every week his role might change a little bit.”
The 6-foot-2, 277-pound Hinish has 10 total tackles in his 235 defensive snaps, which lead all Notre Dame interior defensive linemen. Jason Onye (221) and Louisville transfer Jared Dawson (213) are next in snaps at defensive tackle.
Hinish played only five snaps Sept. 27 at Arkansas due to a shoulder issue, but he’s averaged 33 in the other seven games as the Irish have stormed back from an 0-2 start.
The nature of Hinish’s absence puts his potential homecoming on Nov. 15 at Pittsburgh in question. The younger brother of former Irish captain and nose tackle Kurt Hinish, now with the NFL’s Houston Texans, had been looking forward to playing in front of friends and family at Acrisure Stadium, the home of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“When I think of Donovan Hinish, I think of … a guy that’s who he is,” Freeman said. “Where he’s from, how he was raised, his parents, his brother and sister. His brother was another great example of that.
“(Donovan) is not a big rah-rah, talk guy. He’s a ‘go about my business every single day’ (guy). I’m glad we have him.”
Rubio, meanwhile, will miss a third straight game this week since being injured in practice ahead of the USC game in mid-October.
Notre Dame’s run defense ranks 12th nationally, allowing 2.85 yards per carry and 90 yards per game.
Navy (7-1) enters Saturday night with 30 rushing touchdowns, 6.6 yards per carry and 317 rushing yards per game.
Mike Berardino covers Notre Dame football for the South Bend Tribune and NDInsider.com. Follow him on social media @MikeBerardino.
