BREAKING: Holmes, McIntosh, Tiassum and Stepherson No Longer With Program
Notre Dame got good news on Monday as defensive tackle Jerry Tillery and linebacker Te’von Coney announced they would return for their senior years.
But bad news followed.
On Tuesday, Irish Sports Daily learned running backs CJ Holmes and Deon McIntosh along with receiver KJ Stepherson and defensive tackle Brandon Tiassum are no longer with the football program.
Holmes, McIntosh and Tiassum remain enrolled in school. While ISD has not been able confirm Stepherson’s current academic status with the University.
Tiassum played in three games in 2017 and recorded two tackles. The 6-foot-4, 305-pounder did not see action his freshman or sophomore season.
Stepherson has totaled 44 catches for 821 yards and 10 touchdowns over his two-year career at Notre Dame, including 19 receptions for 359 yards and five scores in 2017.
The Jacksonville native was arrested with Holmes for stealing a pair of sweatpants at Macy's but was also stopped for speeding, driving with a suspended license and possession of marijuana the day before. Stepherson was also charged in August of 2016 for possession of marijuana.
McIntosh had a breakout season in 2017 as he ran for 368 yards and five touchdowns in his first year of action. The highlight of the year came at North Carolina when the Pompano Beach (Fla.) native rushed 12 times for 124 yards and two scores.
The sophomore running back was sent home from the Citrus Bowl due to a violation of team rules.
Holmes, an early enrollee out of Cheshire Academy in the 2017 recruiting class, turned heads during spring practice a year ago, but was sidelined with a shoulder injury midway through.
A month into the 2017 season, Holmes seemed destined to redshirt, but injuries at the position led to him making his debut at North Carolina on Oct. 7th. He carried the ball eight times for 32 yards on the game’s final drive. The rest of the Hampden, Conn., native’s action during the season was limited to special teams duty.
Holmes was arrested with Stepherson in December for shoplifting
Notre Dame’s backfield gets thin for spring ball with the loss of Holmes and McIntosh combined with Josh Adams leaving early for the NFL Draft. Senior Dexter Williams, redshirt sophomore Tony Jones Jr. and early enrollee Jahmir Smith will be the only three scholarship running backs on the roster the spring.
Williams has rushed for 641 yards and eight touchdowns on 99 career carries, while Jones had a productive 2017 with 232 yards and three touchdowns. Both battled nagging injuries in 2017, which opened the door for McIntosh.
ISD expert Jamie Uyeyama offers his thoughts on what the news means for the program