Two of the five Notre Dame players involved in the school’s academic fraud investigation will not play for the team this season.
Senior wide receiver DaVaris Daniels will leave the school and pursue other options, while defensive end Ishaq Williams hopes to return to the Fighting Irish in 2015.
Daniels’ father, 15-year NFL veteran Phillip Daniels, wrote on Twitter that his son is “done at Notre Dame and will weigh his options for the future.”
Finally after over 4 months my son got an answer! He is done at Notre Dame and will weigh his options for the future! #HeIsNDNoMore
— Phillip Daniels (@PhillipDaniels) October 14, 2014
Good luck to the rest of the players at ND and we wish you much success. Thanks to the fans for your support and the parents for their love!
— Phillip Daniels (@PhillipDaniels) October 14, 2014 Daniels also took to Twitter to thank his supporters and say that he would not transfer. If he does not transfer to another school, declaring for the NFL Draft seems like the most likely option for Daniels moving forward.
Thanks to everyone who supported, I appreciate it and now it's time to strap up for bigger things!
— Toot Daddy Fresh™ (@DaVarisDaniels) October 14, 2014
Not looking to transfer. ND was my team. ND is where my heart was. Unfortunately my time here is done, ready for my future.
— Toot Daddy Fresh™ (@DaVarisDaniels) October 14, 2014 The 6-foot-1, 203-pound Daniels was the team’s leading returning receiver coming into the 2014 season. In total in his Notre Dame career, Daniels caught 80 passes for 1,235 yards and seven touchdowns.
In Williams’ case, ND head coach Brian Kelly said Tuesday he had a conversation with the senior and Williams told him that he’d like to return to the team next season. Williams has played in 35 games in his career, making 45 total tackles, six tackles for loss and one sack.
Kelly also said that junior defensive back KeiVarae Russell, another player involved in the investigation, would like to return to the team next season, too.
NBC Sports reported last week that Russell would not play for the remainder of the season but planned to return in 2015.
According to Irish Illustrated, Williams and Russell will not be allowed to stay at the school this semester as part of their punishment, but they can re-enroll at a later time.
Kelly says KeiVarae Russell and Ishaq Williams have told him they both would like to return to the team next season.
— Irish Illustrated (@NDatRivals) October 14, 2014
Kelly says that Ishaq Williams and KeiVarae Russell won’t be allowed to stay at the school this semester.
— Irish Illustrated (@NDatRivals) October 14, 2014 It is not entirely clear what ruling was handed down to Daniels and Williams, but multiple outlets reported last week that all five players – Daniels, Williams and Russell, along with linebacker Kendall Moore and safety Eilar Hardy – would not play for the team this season.
The school said earlier in the month that it would not publically reveal the results of the players’ honor code hearings, but it would send its findings to the NCAA. However, the school said the five players could reveal the results of their hearings if they chose to do so.
All five players have been withheld from practice and meetings since mid-August, though they have been allowed inside the team facility during the investigation.
Even without the players –three of whom (Williams, Russell and Daniels) were listed as starters in preseason camp – the Fighting Irish are 6-0 and ranked No. 5 in the country. The team faces its biggest challenge of the season Saturday in a road contest with No. 2 Florida State.
For more Notre Dame news, visit IrishIllustrated.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
From Dr. Saturday - NCAAF - Yahoo Sports - Notre Dame WR DaVaris Daniels leaving school, DE Ishaq Williams hopes to return in 2015
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