Notre Dame’s receiving corps will be severely depleted when it takes the field this postseason.
Two days ago, the football program announced that two players, wide receiver Kevin Stepherson and running back C.J. Holmes, had been suspended for the Citrus Bowl New Year’s Day against LSU. It was subsequently learned that the suspensions stemmed from shoplifting arrests.
A day later, Brian Kelly confirmed that a third Fighting Irish player, tight end Alize Mack, has been suspended for the bowl game as well. Mack’s suspension, though, is unrelated to the incident involving his two teammates and instead attributed some vague “internal team matter.”
Mack’s 19 receptions are tied for fourth on the team, while his 166 yards are fifth.
Thanks to the suspensions to Mack and Stepherson, as well as an injury to Chase Claypool, Notre Dame will be without three of its top four pass catchers for the bowl game. Claypool is second on the team with 29 catches, while Stepherson’s 19 are tied with Mack for third. All told, the Irish will be down 67 receptions, 927 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns for the bowl game against the Tigers.
Equanimeous Brown leads the team with 31 receptions and 468 yards. His four touchdown catches are second behind Stepherson’s five.