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Notre Dame's Ishaq Williams' career comes to an end, has appeal denied by NCAA

Brian Spurlock / USA TODAY Sports

Ishaq Williams has played his last game with the Fighting Irish.

The NCAA denied Williams' waiver for reinstatement, head coach Brian Kelly told the media on Thursday, a year after he was one of five Notre Dame players suspended in an academic fraud investigation.

"We knew and I think Ishaq knew it was going to be an uphill fight, but where he never wavered was coming back to school and getting his degree," Kelly said. "The silver lining here was he is in school and we're very optimistic that he'll be able to finish his degree here in the short term."

The head coach explained that Williams still has a locker, and is allowed to work out. However, the defensive end cannot practice with his teammates.

This is Williams' final year of collegiate eligibility, but Kelly said that doesn't mean his football days are over.

"I think he's going to get himself organized academically now that he has finality with this and I think he's still interested in maybe pursuing the NFL, but he's still kind of figuring out what he wants to do," Kelly said.

Williams received the suspension following an August investigation into whether he, cornerback KeiVarae Russell, receiver DaVaris Daniels, linebacker Kendall Moore, and defensive back Eilar Hardy had been submitting school work that was written for them.

Russell received full clearance by the NCAA to return to the field, the head coach announced last week. Coach Kelly noted that Williams and Russell are "different scenarios."

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