How Losing RB Greg Bryant Impacts Notre Dame's Playoff Chances

SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Just three days from the start of Notre Dame's fall camp, the Irish lost running back Greg Bryant.

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly confirmed Tuesday the junior will not play for the Irish in 2015, following a report from Irish Illustrated’s Pete Sampson that Bryant is academically ineligible for the season. Kelly said Bryant remains on scholarship and is allowed to practice with the team, though he won’t occupy a spot on the 105-man roster.

“There are certain expectations within our program that must be met on a daily basis,” Kelly said in a statement. “Quite simply, Greg did not meet those expectations.”

The loss of Bryant shouldn’t do much to change Notre Dame’s expectations, though. For all the hype surrounding Bryant, who pledged to the Irish in December 2012 as the No. 6 running back and No. 45 overall prospect in the class of 2013, his production hasn’t nearly matched his potential.

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The Delray Beach, Florida, product played in three games as a true freshman before missing the rest of the season due to injury. Back for the 2014 campaign, Bryant carried just 54 times in a crowded backfield, collecting 289 rushing yards and three scores. He logged just 11 attempts in the final six games, including a 79-yard outburst against USC in the regular-season finale.

Bryant was already reportedly facing a suspension to begin the 2015 season. Now, he won’t tote the rock at all for the Irish this year.

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While Notre Dame loses a physically gifted running back with an enticing blend of power and agility, Bryant’s absence won’t leave the Irish scrambling for answers. Fellow junior Tarean Folston is still the lead back, and he's coming off a sophomore season in which he tallied 889 yards and six scores on 175 carries.

C.J. Prosise, who switched from slot receiver to running back in the spring, will presumably stay put in the backfield. If Prosise, a 220-pounder with impressive speed, can build on a breakout spring in which Kelly doused him with praise, Notre Dame won’t miss Bryant much.

To be clear, it’d certainly be a plus to have Bryant around in the backfield, especially if the tailback made major strides in his third season on campus. But between Folston, Prosise and dual-threat quarterback Malik Zaire, the offense should be able to manage. In the Music City Bowl victory over LSU, the Irish rushed 51 times for 263 yards (5.2 yards per carry). Zaire led that charge with 22 attempts for 96 yards and a score. Prosise, out of the slot, piled up 75 yards on three rushes. Folston got the ball 21 times, grinding out hard-earned yards against a strong Tigers defense.

It’s one game with unique circumstances—a two-quarterback setup, a month of preparation—but there’s a ready-made template if Kelly and company would like to follow it.

Bryant only rushed twice for two yards against LSU. Still, injuries can quickly blow up a depth chart. True freshmen Dexter Williams and Josh Adams round out the running back pecking order, and reliable veteran Cam McDaniel is no longer waiting as a trusty safety valve.

Elsewhere on the offense, the Prosise ripple effect would be felt in the slot. Fifth-year man Amir Carlisle snagged 23 receptions for 309 yards in 2014, but 11 of those receptions came in the first three games. Depth will be important around Carlisle, who has battled injuries throughout his career, but the Irish are as well stocked at wide receiver as they are at any other position.

Speaking of depth, Bryant’s absence offers a clearer picture in the scholarship crunch. At the start of spring ball, Kelly said he finally felt Notre Dame had the depth “necessary to go and play football,” rather than tiptoe around with a depleted roster.

That depth, however, has raised questions about how the Irish can reach the 85-scholarship limit. Bryant’s absence coupled with Tuesday’s announcement that linebacker Michael Deeb and tight end Mike Heuerman have been medically disqualified should put Notre Dame in position to stay at or below the maximum.

Again, that’s not to diminish the significance of the Bryant news. Bryant arrived on campus in 2013 as one of the crown jewels of that star-studded recruiting class, and he was a terrific pull from Florida. He hasn’t approached expectations through two seasons, though, and won’t see the field in 2015. His future in South Bend is reportedly unclear, according to Sampson.

But Notre Dame moves on in 2015.

Unless otherwise noted, all recruiting stats and information courtesy of 247Sports.com and all quotes obtained firsthand. Star ratings reflect 247Sports composite rankings.

Mike Monaco is the lead Notre Dame writer for Bleacher Report. Follow @MikeMonaco_ on Twitter.