The five players suspended at Notre Dame for academic issues are unlikely to play this season.
A Chicago Tribune report said the five players -- cornerback KeiVarae Russell, wide receiver DaVaris Daniels, defensive end Ishaq Williams, linebacker Kendall Moore and safety Eilar Hardy -- will not play this season. Irishillustrated.com -- a Notre Dame-centric website -- reported that two sources said the players would not play this season, with one of the sources indicating "that they will 'probably never play another down' for the school." (The irishillustrated.com story is behind a paywall.)
Irish coach Brian Kelly had said Tuesday during his weekly news conference that the school's ruling on the five players was "imminent."
Daniels, Moore, Russell and Williams were suspended Aug. 15; Hardy was suspended Aug. 28. In a release announcing the four suspensions Aug. 15, the school said it found evidence late in the summer that students had turned in papers and homework that had been written for them by others and referred that evidence on July 29 to the compliance office on athletics.
Daniels, Russell and Williams were projected starters. Russell was considered the team's most talented defensive back, and Daniels was the leading returning receiver.
A statement from the school Sunday said the hearings for the players were completed last week and that the decisions would be communicated to the players.
Notre Dame is 5-0 and plays host to North Carolina on Saturday. The Irish play at Florida State on Oct. 18.
Mike Huguenin can be reached at mike.huguenin@nfl.com. You also can follow him on Twitter @MikeHuguenin.
