Russell’s return fortifies a defense that is expected to be one of college football’s best.
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KeiVarae Russell earned freshman All-American honors in 2012.
“By the way, KeiVarae is fully cleared by the NCAA and reinstated”, CBS Sports quoted Kelly telling reporters Tuesday. The Defensive back had been suspended for the entire 2014 season because of the findings rendered in an academic fraud investigation that involved four other football players as well.
The Observer student-run newspaper at UND quoted Russell saying at Media Day he feels “amazing” to be cleared to play this season. Kelly said he is still awaiting word on the status of defensive end Ishaq Williams, who also returned to school this summer after being suspended as part of last year’s investigation.
Our buddy JJ Stankevitz, for his full-time gig at CSNChicago.com, writes that “during Russell’s suspension, he took classes through the University of Washington and checked all the boxes necessary to be cleared to return to play by the NCAA”.
Russell came into his own in 2013, playing in 13 games and setting a career high with 40 solo tackles and eight passes defended.
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The University of Notre Dame athletics ticket office says they received a number of reports and evidence of counterfeit tickets to the game. He also started as a freshman on Notre Dame’s 2012 national championship runner-up team.
