Kyle Brindza is set to handle place-kicking, kickoff and punting duties for Notre Dame in 2013, but insurance is on the way.
Wake Forest punter Alex Wulfeck will be transferring to Notre Dame after he gets his degree in May, the South Bend Tribune's Eric Hansen reports. Wulfeck will be using the same NCAA graduate exemption rule that enabled former Irish quarterback Dayne Crist to transfer last year to Kansas and play immediately. Wulfeck was the Demon Deacons' starter in 2011 and a preferred walk-on who earned a scholarship before losing his starting job during training camp last year.
Wulfeck told Hansen that a preseason groin injury briefly sidelined him before Alex Kinal took over as Wake's punter and never looked back.
“I kind of tweaked my groin the first day of camp,” said the 5-foot-9, 175-pounder. “I spent four days trying to rehab it, just playing it smart so I wouldn’t tear it and then be out for the season. When I came back, I was told, I’d have to work my way back to the top.
“It was kind of a weird situation. I felt like I performed and was never really given the chance. So after the season, I knew I wanted to explore other options, and Notre Dame just kind of came out of the woodwork.”
Wulfeck averaged 39.7 yards off 70 punts in 2011, booting five kicks for 50 or more yards and recording five touchbacks.
