Just one day after we published an article outlining a “Now or Never” season for junior running back Greg Bryant, news broke that the Florida native was suspended for the entire 2015 season just weeks after it was announced he would be suspended for the first four games .
In a statement released by Notre Dame, head coach Brian Kelly said that, “There are certain expectations within our program that must be met on a daily basis. Quite simply, Greg did not meet those expectations.”
The statement did say, however, that Bryant would remain on scholarship and be able to practice with the team – news that would suggest Bryant was academically eligible from a NCAA standpoint and not a situation like last year’s “Academic 5” or Everett Golson two years ago. In those other cases, the players were no longer enrolled at the University and thus ineligible to practice with the team.
For Notre Dame, the news is crippling from a depth perspective this fall. Even with Bryant, Notre Dame only had three non-freshmen running backs on the roster and one, CJ Prosise, just converted to running back in the spring. The Irish were already expected to have to get early contributions from Dexter Williams and/or Josh Adams before Bryant’s suspension. After, it’s almost a given that both will see action this fall.
Outside of the frosh, Notre Dame could also turn to 5th year senior Amir Carlisle. While Carlisle had a great spring at the slot position, he has experience as a running back from playing the position in 2013 and could provide some depth if the youngsters are unable to pick up the offense quick enough or if Josh Adams isn’t recovered enough from his ACL injury he suffered as a senior to play at a high level. All reports are that Adams is in great shape, but an athlete is almost never fully 100% the year following an ACL injury.
Bryant’s suspension that any hybrid role for CJ Prosise is almost certainly out the window now – he pretty much has to be exclusively a running back now. Prosise was already ahead of Bryant on the depth chart following the spring, but Bryant’s presence would have allowed Mike Sanford and the Notre Dame offensive staff some room to get creative with his role. While Prosise still could get moved around a bit it’s likely the vast majority of his time will be in the backfield.
Tarean Folston also now becomes one of the most indispensable players on the Notre Dame roster for the 2015 season. Folston will without a doubt be the man in the backfield for the Irish and with less experienced depth behind him; a 1,000 yard season nows seems almost certain assuming Folston remains healthy.
Bryant was also considered to be one of the best punt returners on the roster as evidenced by his near touchdown return against Louisville. Look for Notre Dame to give incoming freshman CJ Sanders a look as a punt returner along with some of the usual suspects we’ve seen return punts in the past such as Amir Carlisle and possibly Will Fuller.
For Bryant, Tuesday’s news is just another setback in what has become, at least so far, a disappointing career for a former 5-star rated running back. After playing very early on as a freshman, Bryant ended up becoming a medical redshirt in 2013. A year ago Bryant looked strong early in the season, but his role diminished as the season progressed.
Bryant remains enrolled at Notre Dame and is expected to return to campus as a student later in August. His future after that, however, remains uncertain at this time. Given his suspension is related to meeting Notre Dame’s expectation, look for the transfer rumors and speculation to run rampant although any transfer would still require Bryant to miss all of the 2015 season.
As much as I hate to admit it Burgundy is right..It’s not really about a B- or a B+, it’s about keeping a specific overall grade point average. Does anyone know if ND requires the standard 2.0 that other schools do or are their standards higher?
Has nothing to do with the father who you claim is putting out BS about his sons academic problems! I am not on this site much but every time I do check it out you are on here usually into it with another member.
Had he received a B- in every other class he’s taken this final B- wouldn’t matter.
You can say whatever Ron about Bryant’s father but since Greg has been at ND everything his dad has said involving his son has been the truth. When all the rumors started popping up that Greg was going to transfer his dad put those rumors to bed quickly. He has no reason to just throw out some BS about Greg’s grades this summer. He is telling the truth and this will make things that much harder trying to recruit any elite prospect to Notre Dame. Look at the class we have now full of mostly 3 star prospects. We will lose a ton of talent after this season. Some fans want to say its because of all the new coaches and that might play a very small part but the biggest issue is that these kids see all these academic suspensions and players leaving before they ever play one game is killing ND so far and you cant blame these elite players saying no to ND. The state of Indiana doesnt produce a lot of elite talent but when it does we must land those players every time. Losing those players to Ohio St and Michigan State cant happen. Getting a B- minus instead of a B+ shouldn’t be the reason a football player has to miss a entire season.
Because the parent of an athlete is always the most objective source for fair and balanced info.
Bryant’s father said Greg became ineligible because he needed a B+ in a summer school course but received a B-.
If you are a a elite recruit and you see that why would you come here to play?
If you’re going to ask the lord for something make it cool like a giant slushy machine or jet pack.
@ AJ
The Lord has nothing to do with it.
According to his father, Greg ONLY got a B- in his summer school class. Needed a B+. I suspect
ONLY at ND (outside of the Ivy league) would that be a reality for a D1 football player.
Wonder how many of this year’s 5* athletes would have even gotten a B- in that summer class?
If he had his paper proofread, he’d have had to sit out at least a year, too. Ask K. Russell.
This has and obviously will be an ongoing story at ND. The only question each season is who, not if.
Kelly is right when he stated that most ND FB scholarship athletes are in danger of ineligibility.
At ND, it’s a way of life- and other school’s recruiters, I trust, hammer that reality home to top recruits.
After the “frozen five” fiasco, it’s gotta be easier and easier to scare top prospects away. Plus Bryant.
Wonder how many 5*prospects are lost by Cooks and Alford at OU and The Ohio State University this year? Over/under at 1!
Please Lord allow this to be the only suspension this year. My heart can’t take another year like the last ones!
And the academic difficulties, suspensions, transfers, discipline problems, under-performing beat goes on for the KELLY led football program.
It’s just a real unfortunate thing for both Greg and the team. Hate to see it happen.
Its to bad for Bryant because I really thought this was going to be a breakout year for him. Now I doubt he puts the uniform on again which might be better for him going to a lower level and playing this year. If he played at Ohio State or FSU he would be suspended for one half of a football game with a slap on the wrist but this is ND and you have to stay on top of things off the field and on.