Notre Dame football dismisses four players
Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly has sent a clear message: If you break the law, don’t expect to remain part of the team.
The message was relayed loud and clear Tuesday when the school announced four players from last season’s squad have been dismissed from the football program, including the team’s third-leading receiver and third-leading rusher.
Notre Dame spokesmen Michael Bertsch confirmed sophomore wide receiver Kevin Stepherson, freshman running back C.J. Holmes, sophomore running back Deon McIntosh and junior nose guard Brandon Tiassum are no longer part of the team.
Stepherson led the Fighting Irish with five touchdown receptions this season. In all, he caught 19 passes for 357 yards, which was third best on the team. He also caught five touchdowns during his freshman season.
But this past season was marred with disciplinary issues.
He missed the team’s first four games for unspecified disciplinary violations, then was suspended indefinitely by Kelly on Dec. 20 and did not travel to the team’s Citrus Bowl game in Florida against LSU.
Stepherson and Holmes were arrested Dec. 15 for allegedly shoplifting at a mall near South Bend, Indiana. The two were later each charged with conversion, a Class A misdemeanor.
One day prior to the shoplifting incident, Stepherson had been charged with possession of marijuana, speeding and driving without a valid driver’s license. He was previously arrested for possession of marijuana in August 2016. He pleaded guilty and was granted a conditional discharge in June.
McIntosh had 368 rushing yards with five touchdowns in five games this past season, including a season-high 124 yards and two touchdowns in a 33-10 victory at North Carolina. McIntosh was sent home from the Citrus Bowl on Dec. 30 for an undisclosed violation of team rules.
Holmes and Tiassum made only sporadic appearances for the Irish this past season.
When Stepherson was arrested in 2016, he was one of five Irish players arrested for marijuana possession in the same incident.
Kelly, who just completed his eighth season as Notre Dame head coach, has come under scrutiny for the number of players who have been involved in off-field incidents in recent years.
The Irish were also slapped with NCAA penalties for an academic fraud investigation that resulted in the school vacating victories from 2012 and 2013.
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