Notre Dame Futures Likely Affected By Dismissal Of 4 Starters

Big news in college football on Friday that most certainly will affect Notre Dame's fortunes for the 2014 season as well as those 12 teams that the Irish play as four starters have been dismissed from school for academic fraud.

Daniels The Biggest Name

Wide receiver DaVaris Daniels, defensive back KeiVarae Russell, defensive lineman Ishaq Williams and linebacker Kendall Moore are out. Academic dismissals are nothing new at Notre Dame. A year ago, starting quarterback Everett Golson was suspended for the 2013 season after he was caught cheating on an exam. He was allowed to return to Notre Dame for the winter semester and is back as the starter.

Daniels and Russell were important parts of the 2012 team, which finished the regular season 12-0. Under NCAA protocol, an honor code violation would mean the school could ultimately vacate victories. Last year, Daniels was the team's second leading receiver, catching 49 balls for 745 yards and seven touchdowns. The leading receiver, T.J. Jones (70 catches, 1,108 yards, 9 TDs), graduated. So that's now clearly a position that could be an issue.

Russell, a junior, has started all 26 games during his two years in South Bend. A freshman All-American in 2012, Russell finished fifth in tackles last season, tops among all defensive backs. He led all Irish players in passes broken up (eight) and passes defensed (nine).

Loss To Michigan Now Looming?

The Irish open Aug. 30 at home against Rice as a 21-point favorite. They will still beat the Owls, but in Week 2 Notre Dame hosts Michigan. The Wolverines most certainly will take advantage of those four starters missing. At BetOnline, Notre Dame has wins totals of 9.5 (under -1125 favorite), 9 (under -800 favorite), 8.5 (under -260 favorite), 8 (under -170 favorite) and 7.5 (over -125 favorite).

 

 

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