Reports: Notre Dame to Dismiss Four Potential Starters Due to Academic Violation

The academic issues in South Bend continue.

After Notre Dame suspended starting quarterback Everett Golson, starting wide receiver DaVaris Daniels and basketball player Jerian Grant last year, the Fighting Irish are reportedly set to dish out another set of suspensions, this time permanent, per a source close to the situation and Fox Sports.

Daniels, starting cornerback KeiVarae Russell, starting defensive end Ishaq Williams and linebacker Kendall Moore are to be dismissed from the program due to academic fraud.

As Yahoo’s Pat Forde reported, the suspensions arise after an academic probe investigating academic fraud not just by the aforementioned players, but also regular Notre Dame students.

The loss of the four players would provide a huge blow the Notre Dame’s playoff hopes for the upcoming season.

Daniels was expected to be one of the biggest weapons on the offensive side of the ball for the Irish.

Through two full seasons with the Irish, Daniels has hauled in 80 career receptions for 1,235 yards and seven touchdowns.

Russell, the head of Notre Dame’s secondary, was one of the top NFL prospects on the roster. There were hopes that he would be the lockdown corner that Notre Dame has been lacking in recent years.

Williams was expected to replace recently graduated Prince Shembo to become the head of the Notre Dame pass rush as a weakside defensive end in the newly implemented 4-3 base defensive system.

Moore, a fifth-year senior, was expected to be a part of the inside linebacker rotation.