Sunday, March 10, 2013

15. Braxston Cave – Notre Dame



Braxston Cave – 52                     Notre Dame                                        6-4 304           

2012: Missed 2012 spring practice while recovering from foot injury but enters 2012 as the starting center. Approved for fifth season of eligibility by Faculty Board on Athletics. Selected First Team All-Independent for the 2012 college football season by members of a nationwide media panel. Selected Third Team All-American for the 2012 college football season by the Associated Press. Played in the Senior Bowl All-Star Game. Played in 13 games.
2011: 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: 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: 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: 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: Attended Penn High School. 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'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.
Personal: 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.

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