Updated at 6:40 a.m., Tuesday, September 4, 2007
CFB: Notre Dame to start freshman QB Clausen
Associated Press
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame freshman Jimmy Clausen will start at quarterback Saturday against Penn State after entering the opener as the third-stringer following offseason arm surgery.Coach Charlie Weis, whose team is coming off a 33-3 loss at home to Georgia Tech, did not immediately elaborate today on the reason for his choice.
Clausen was rated by many as the top high school recruit last year. Weis said Sunday that Clausen could not have started the opener because he was recovering from arthroscopic surgery to have a bone spur removed from his throwing elbow. Weis said Clausen wasn't fully healthy until last week.
Notre Dame was held to 130 yards passing last week, ranking them 94th of 113 teams. Clausen played the final two series and was 4-of-6 passing for 34 yards and sacked once.
Demetrius Jones started the game and was 1-of-3 passing for 4 yards against Georgia Tech and ran the ball 12 times for 28 yards. Four of the six drives he led ended in three-and-outs, and he fumbled the ball away on the other two possessions. Evan Sharpley was 10-of-13 passing for 92 yards, but was sacked seven times.
