#52 Braxston Cave 2011-12 Football Roster

2012 (Fifth Year):Started all 13 games … played in 48 games during his career … started 22 straight games (35 career starts) before a foot injury in 2011 required surgery and forced him to miss the remainder of season … made several award watch lists, most notably the Rimington Trophy, Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy … part of an offensive line that helped the Irish average over 200 yards per game in both rushing and receiving in the regular season … only two previous Irish teams ever achieved the 200-200 in both categories (1977, 1970) … helped Notre Dame average 5.0 yards per rush in the regular season – the highest per carry average for the Irish since 1996 (5.2) … only two offensive lines from a Bowl Championship Series conference, including Notre Dame, averaged at least 200 yards on the ground, 200 yards in the air and yielded 16 sacks or less in the regular season … helped Irish run for at least 200 yards seven times in 2012, including six of the last nine contests … Notre Dame has not posted more 200+ yard rushing games in a single season since 1996 when the Irish registered nine games with at least 200 yards rushing … over last nine games, Notre Dame has combined to rush for 1,901 yards (359 attempts) for 5.3 yards per carry and 14 rushing TDs.

2011 (SENIOR): Started first nine games at center before suffering a season-ending foot injury against Wake Forest … Irish offense averaged 173.6 rushing yards per game and 5.5 yards per carry through first nine games … was named to the Rimington Trophy Watch List in the preseason … offensive line allowed only five sacks in 324 pass attempts in the nine games he started … helped Irish rush for 198 yards on 33 carries (6.0 yards per carry) at Michigan … opened holes for Notre Dame rushing attack that gained 287 yards on 40 carries at Purdue … helped Irish average 9.2 yards per carry vs. Air Force .

2010 (JUNIOR): Saw action in all 13 games … one of 11 players to start all 13 games … joined OT Zack Martin, OG Chris Stewart and OG Trevor Robinson as the only players on the offensive side of the ball to start all 13 games … made his first career start against Purdue … the Irish offensive line allowed 20 sacks over its 13 games in 2010, which averaged 1.54 sacks per game … Notre Dame had not allowed fewer sacks per game since 1998 when the Irish allowed only nine sacks in 11 games or 0.82 per game … totaled 836 snaps on offense, the most of any Irish offensive lineman.

2009 (SOPHOMORE): Appeared in all 12 games, primarily on special teams for Irish … served as snapper on field goals and extra points … logged 7:08 of playing time and made 110 special-teams appearances, tied for 12th-most on the team.

2008 (FRESHMAN): Saw action in the San Diego State game … served as the Irish short snapper … logged 2:03 of playing time and five special-teams appearances before suffering a season-ending injury.

HIGH SCHOOL AND PERSONAL DATA: Selected to play in Under Armour All-America Game in Orlando … placed on Scout.com All-America second team … named to Indiana top-50 all-state team by Indiana Football Coaches Association … one of 12 finalists for Indiana[apos]s ‘Mr. Football’ award … runner-up for Offensive Lineman of the Year Award sponsored by Indianapolis Star … placed a close second finishing with 93 votes, two behind winner … Rivals.com rated him second-best player in Indiana and fourth-best center in the nation … chosen for Rivals 250 by Rivals.com recognizing him as one of the top 250 players in country … ranked by SuperPrep the 25th best offensive lineman in nation, third-best offensive lineman in Midwest and 14th-best prospect in Midwest … ranked by Scout.com as the number-two center in nation and second-best player in Indiana … rated 125th on ESPN 150 list … helped guide the Kingsmen to an undefeated regular season in his senior season and final 12-1 record … named after former Notre Dame football player Braxston Banks … also participated in track where he threw the shot put over 51 feet and tossed discus 145 feet … attended same high school as former Irish offensive linemen Thomas Bemenderfer and Mike Rosenthal … played for coach Cory Yeoman at Penn … son of Rick and Kim Cave … youngest of three children (two older sisters – Brooke and Brittney) … graduated in May 2012 from College of Arts and Letters with a psychology degree … enrolled in graduate studies program.

Cave[apos]s Career Statistics