KeiVarae Russell was expecting to be cleared to play this season, but the NCAA releasing its official decision was relieving nonetheless.
Notre Dame head football coach Brian Kelly confirmed Tuesday at the team's Media Day event that the NCAA cleared Russell to play this season, ESPN reported.
The Fighting Irish cornerback was suspended not only from football, but from the University of Notre Dame the past two semesters for academic violations. Russell re-enrolled this past summer and was confident the NCAA would allow him to play out his senior season.
"By the way, KeiVarae is fully cleared by the NCAA and reinstated," CBS Sports quoted Kelly telling reporters Tuesday. "So he's back with us. You like how I dropped that in there, right?"
The Observer student-run newspaper at UND quoted Russell saying at Media Day he feels "amazing" to be cleared to play this season. The senior cornerback is expected to be an integral part of the Irish's secondary, as he totaled 109 tackles, three interceptions, and even made some plays in the backfield for the Irish in his first two seasons in 2012 and 2013.
KeiVarae Russell on gaining NCAA clearance: "Man, it feels great. It feels amazing." pic.twitter.com/8RWaZRUiAt
— Mary Green (@MaryEGreen15) August 18, 2015
Whereas Russell has been allowed to practice while the NCAA returned a decision on his playing status, defensive end Ishaq Williams was not. Also implicated in the academic investigation a year ago, Williams has had to miss the team's organized preseason activities thus far.
Kelly said in his address Tuesday that the defensive end appealed to the NCAA personally, ESPN reported. UND has reportedly kept Williams off the practice field because they are not confident the NCAA will reinstate him.
