Irish DL Jarron Jones tears MCL, out for 2015

Notre Dame has suffered a major loss before the season has even started.

Multiple reports began surfacing Friday that redshirt junior defensive lineman Jarron Jones had suffered a serious knee injury, and on Saturday coach Brian Kelly confirmed the news.

Jones has suffered a torn MCL and will miss the entire 2015 season. He’ll have surgery to repair the tear next week.

Here are three things to know about it:

1. Jones was expected to be a big part of Notre Dame’s defense in 2015: Jones started 11 games for Notre Dame in 2014, and was one of 10 returning starters from last year’s team. Those returners on defense, as well as the return of cornerback Kei’Varae Russell (suspended for the entire 2014 season) is one of the big reasons Notre Dame heads into the 2015 season with high expectations, as it’s currently ranked No. 11 in the preseason Coaches Poll and No. 10 in the CBS Sports 128.

In his 11 games last season, Jones was a force on the defensive line, finishing with 40 tackles, including 7.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks. He also forced a fumble and blocked two kicks.

2. This is not the first time Jones has been injured: Jones played in 11 games last year, but Notre Dame played 13 games. He missed the final few games of the season after suffering a Lisfranc injury in his foot during Notre Dame’s 31-28 loss to Louisville on Nov. 22.

The Irish went 1-1 without Jones, losing to USC and beating LSU in the Music City Bowl, but the defense allowed 490 yards rushing in those two games. There’s no doubt that not having Jones in the middle of the defensive line had an impact there.

3. Jones’ likely replacements don’t have a lot of experience: Kelly said Jones will be replaced by true freshman Jerry Tillery and sophomore Daniel Cage. Tillery is a four-star lineman from Louisiana that just enrolled at Notre Dame in the spring and is yet to play a single down in a college game. Cage did play in 11 games for the Irish last season, but he finished the year with only 11 tackles. Both will take on roles they weren’t supposed to have in 2015, but if there’s any good news it’s that with so much experience elsewhere on defense, neither will be asked to carry the entire load alone.

Jarron Jones started 11 games in 2014 and had 40 tackles. (USATSI)

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