Dec. 31--In some ways, being hurt has been a help to C.J. Prosise.
The Notre Dame running back is likely to be back from a high ankle sprain in time for Friday's Fiesta Bowl against No. 7 Ohio State (11-1).
Prosise missed the regular-season finale against Stanford and didn't begin practicing until three weeks later. The time away has served as a remedy for some other lingering sores -- namely his left shoulder and the concussion that caused him to miss another game.
"The shoulder thing, as a running back, it's always going to hurt in some way," he said. "But it's feeling a lot better. Keeping contact off of it has definitely gotten it better."
Prosise prescribed to some of his woes his mental state. He looked to be limping during practice this week at Scottsdale Community College but said he is 100 percent. He must get used to making the cuts without fear as he did early in the season for the eighth-ranked Irish (10-2).
He's looking at Friday's game as his second chance to make a first impression. He said he hadn't missed a practice until this season, that watching was difficult.
He spent much of that time healing and helping freshmen Josh Adams and Dexter Williams the best he could, with it being his first year as a running back too.
"I had a good start to the season and I just kind of faded away once I got the concussion," Prosise said. "I want to be able to come back fully healthy and have a big game."
Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly possesses the same expectations from his back, who ran for 1,029 yards and 11 touchdowns in 10 games.
"I'd like to get a lot out of him, a lot of big plays in particular" Kelly said. "He looked pretty good (Tuesday). I think (Tuesday) was the first day he ... looked like C.J."
Prosise doesn't expect to carry the ball 20 times. He won't have to, though, thanks to the emergence of Adams in his absence. Adams has 707 yards and five touchdowns to his credit.
pskrbina@tribpub.com
