Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
Tuesday, March 19, 2024
The Observer

Alize Mack suspended for Citrus Bowl

On Thursday, Irish head coach Brian Kelly announced yet another Irish player would be suspended for No. 14 Notre Dame’s matchup with No. 17 LSU in the Citrus Bowl on Jan. 1, as junior tight end Alize Mack will not travel with the team to compete in the bowl game.

1506658101-f75ec804d3a8b14-700x554
Irish junior tight end Alize Mack, right, dodges a defender during Notre Dame's 38-18 win over Michigan State on Saturday in East Lansing, Michigan.
Irish junior tight end Alize Mack, right, dodges a defender during Notre Dame's 38-18 win over Michigan State on Sept. 23 in East Lansing, Michigan.


The announcement came just one day after Kelly announced the indefinite suspensions of sophomore wide receiver Kevin Stepherson and freshman running back C.J. Holmes, both of whom were arrested last Friday for shoplifting, according to a WNDU report.

Kelly said Mack’s suspension is an unrelated incident and the result of an “internal team matter.” Mack sat out the entire 2016 season after being ruled academically ineligible for the campaign, but Kelly emphasized this bowl-game suspension was not due to an academic matter.

“Alize Mack has also been suspended for the game,” Kelly said. “It has nothing to do with — all of our players are eligible academically, it has nothing to do with that. It’s an internal team matter. He will not travel to the bowl game.”

In 10 games played this season, Mack was fourth on the team in catches with 19. He also had 166 yards and a touchdown on the year. With Mack and Stepherson suspended and sophomore wide receiver Chase Claypool out with a shoulder injury, the Irish (9-3) will be without their second, third and fourth leading receivers in terms of receptions against the Tigers (9-3).