Notre Dame announced that 6th year tight end Kevin Bauman and promising redshirt freshman running back Kedren Young will miss the 2025 football season after knee injuries that will require surgery.

The news is devastating for players on opposite ends of their careers.

Young suffered a torn ACL in his right knee. He was entering his 2nd season with the Irish and expected to start pushing for playing time despite being in a loaded running back room that already featureed Jeremiyah Love, Jadarian Price and Aneyas Williams ahead of him on the depth chart. Yet just one week ago, new running backs coach Ja’Juan Seider declared that Young was so talented, he would play this upcoming season. Unfortunately that won’t be the case because of the injury.

Bauman had already battled back from multiple season ending injuries and will need surgery to repair the articular cartilage in his left knee. After playing just three total games between 2022 and 2023, he played sparingly last season in a deep reserve roll. He was given the opportunity to return for a 6th season and potentially an opportunity to make a meaningful impact. Bauman has spoken about gratitude to Notre Dame and his faith as major reasons he elected to return for a 6th year. That continued in an Instagram post Saturday announcing his retirement from football.

“I want to start by thanking God and expressing how thankful I am to have had the opportunity to be a student-athlete at Notre Dame,” Bauman wrote. “It has been an absolute honor to play football at the greatest university in the world. On top of that, I am proud Double-Domer for life. Notre Dame means everything to me: opportunity, growth, resilience. I have been so blessed during my time here. I have made incredible connections and most importantly, I have grown my faith to the strongest it has been. This place is special.”

“Life is all about the journey,” he continued. “Unfortunately, I suffered yet another season-ending injury and while I have been struggling to let it all soak in, I have taken a few days and prayed about it. While my journey as a football player has come to an end, I can confidently say the rest of my life is just getting started.”

Bauman’s classy post went on to thank his family, girlfriend, friends, coaches, faculty, staff and teammates for all they did to support him in his comeback and the impacts they made on his life.

While Notre Dame is very deep at running back, the loss of Bauman will hurt the tight end room which does not have strength in numbers. Eli Raridon is the unquestioned #1 guy in the room but Bauman was expected to be next in line. Arkansas transfer Ty Washington, redshirt freshman Jackson Larsen, true freshman James Flanigan, junior Henry Garrity and Mishawaka alum Justin Fisher will all compete to be the next man in behind Raridon until junior Cooper Flanagan returns from injury.