Notre Dame football coach Brian Kelly announced that rising sophomore Rashad Kinlaw was dismissed from the program. The cornerback from New Jersey had been participating in spring practice up until this point, but is no longer a part of the football team.
“From my perspective, from a football perspective, he didn’t live up to the rules within our football program,” Kelly said after Friday’s practice.
Kinlaw didn’t play in 2013, spending much of the season working with the scout team as a quarterback. The 5-foot-11, 191-pound cornerback was fighting for playing time this spring, working behind starters KeiVarae Russell and Cole Luke, and nickel back Matthias Farley.
On the field, the loss won’t be felt immediately. But Kinlaw earned rave reviews as an athlete during his recruitment, though his junior and senior seasons of high school football were cut short by leg injuries.
Seniors Josh Atkinson and Jalen Brown will likely slide up the depth chart. Sophomore Devin Butler was seen practicing earlier this week as well, though held from contact after offseason shoulder surgery. Florida transfer Cody Riggs joins the program this summer and should immediately contribute, likely starting opposite Russell, or playing in the slot.
The South Bend Tribune confirmed that Kinlaw is still enrolled in school.
