Ishaq Williams’ college football career is over. Notre Dame’s exiled defensive end, who sat out last season as part of a two-semester suspension for his role in the “frozen five” academic dishonesty investigation, has lost his NCAA appeal for reinstatement. Brian Kelly shared the news on Thursday after practice
Williams will remain on campus and is on track to earn his degree from Notre Dame. But the NCAA will not allow Williams to practice with the team, though he’ll keep his locker and be allowed to use the team’s workout facilities. He has professional aspirations, and the former five-star recruit will likely get a shot to catch on with an NFL team.
“The silver lining here is he is in school and we’re very optimistic that he’ll be able to finish his degree here in the short term,” Kelly said, per JJ Stankevitz of CSN Chicago.
Kelly remained hopeful throughout the appeals process, though it always seemed a long shot. And while we’re not fully educated on the proceedings, Williams’ who would’ve been a fifth-year senior this year had he been allowed onto the field, wrote his own appeal to be allowed back onto the field.
In the end, while the details remain murky—not to mention incredibly frustrating—we finally know one thing for certain: Williams’ football career at Notre Dame is over.
