Jonathan Bonner Will Return For Fifth Season

Notre Dame defensive tackle Jon Bonner had announced in the school newspaper at the end of the season that he was done playing football with a year of eligibility left on the table.

The 6-foot-4, 291-pounder now has had a change of heart and will return for a fifth year at Notre Dame.

"Jonathan's an awesome kid," head coach Brian Kelly said in a statement. "He could’ve moved on with his degree from ND, but he decided to return to further his education and help us work toward a national championship. Jonathan's made great strides on the field and I’m excited to see him rewarded for those efforts."

It’s a big boost for first-year defensive coordinator Clark Lea as linebacker Te’von Coney and defensive tackle Jerry Tillery announced they would also return to Notre Dame in 2018 on Monday.

Bonner started all 13 games in 2017 and recorded 30 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks.