ESPN College Football

There weren't a lot of positives for Notre Dame in Saturday's 23-21 loss to Navy. Except one: the return of Michael Floyd.

	Brian Spurlock/US PRESSWIRE
	Playing in just a little over three games, Michael Floyd has 23 catches for 499 yards and six TDs.

The star wide receiver, who broke his collarbone in the third game against Michigan State, picked up just about where he left off, collecting 10 catches for 141 yards and a touchdown. On the game's first play from scrimmage, Floyd caught a pass from quarterback Jimmy Clausen.

"When he threw me that first ball, it felt like I didn't miss a beat," Floyd said. "I was just going back out there and showing my teammates I'm ready to play and do my job."

Notre Dame's training staff tried giving Floyd some pointers on how to fall softly, such as bracing himself with his arm. But Floyd told them he couldn't worry about such things in the heat of a game, and he said he didn't give the collarbone much thought against Navy.

Floyd originally feared he'd be lost for the regular season because of his injury, but he turned out to be a quick healer who couldn't wait to get back on the field. Head coach Charlie Weis left the decision up to Floyd and his mother, Theresa Romero.

"I had to ask her, because she worries about me a lot," Floyd said. "Like moms always do."

Romero said Floyd had actually called her a couple of weeks before the Navy game to see what she thought about him coming back.

"All I asked him was, 'Are you 100 percent?'" she said. "And he said he was 98 percent. So I said, 'Don't do anything until you're 100 percent, because you want to give it your best.'"

Irish fans have gotten used to seeing the best from Floyd. He has basically played three and one-quarter games this season but still has 23 catches for 499 yards and six touchdowns, averaging 21.7 yards per reception. Project his numbers over a 12-game season and he's looking at a 1,500-yard campaign. The Notre Dame record for a season is 1,249 (which Golden Tate is likely to shatter this month).

There may have been some rust in Floyd's game last week, though, as Clausen threw a costly interception that bounced off his receiver's back near the goal line. Both said it was the result of a miscommunication on the route.

Notre Dame's red zone problems have been well documented, and with tight end Kyle Rudolph now sidelined with a bad left shoulder, the 6-foot-3 Floyd may get even more looks near the goal line this week against Pitt.

"Against a good team like that, you've got to be 100 percent down in red zone," Floyd said. "We've got to make it happen this week. Since Rudy's out, there's more pressure on Golden and I to be more efficient."

Floyd had great success against Pitt last year in South Bend, setting a freshman record with 10 catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns in a four-overtime loss. The old Floyd is back, and he hopes that will mean a new result this year.