As Notre Dame's past rash of academic misconduct is being cleared up, head football coach Brian Kelly acknowledged none of his players are immune to such issues.
Speaking with Notre Dame Insider on a wide range of topics, Kelly said he considers all his players to be "at risk" for some sort academically related punishment.
"I think we recognized that all of my football players are at-risk - all of them - really. Honestly, I don't know that any of our players would get into the school by themselves right now with the academic standards the way they are. Maybe one or two of our players that are on scholarship," Kelly told the website. "So making sure that with the rigors that we put them in - playing on the road, playing night games, getting home at 4 o'clock in the morning, all of the demands that we place on them relative to the academics and going into an incredibly competitive academic classroom every day - we recognize this is a different group."
KeiVarae Russell is one of five players implicated in an academic dishonesty investigation on the Fighting Irish football team. Sports Illustrated recently released a profile on the cornerback ahead of his reinstatement to the team, in which he admitted to "taking the easy way out."
University President Rev. John I. Jenkins and Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick reportedly took steps to address academic misconduct, focusing specifically on student-athletes deemed "at risk."
"We have to provide all the resources necessary for them to succeed and don't force them into finding shortcuts," Kelly told Notre Dame Insider. "I think we've clearly identified that we need to do better, and we're not afraid to look at any shortcomings that we do have and fix them, and provide the resources necessary for our guys. Our university has looked at that, and we're prepared to make sure that happens for our guys."
