Notre Dame's DaVaris Daniels feels 'like a villian' amid drawn-out investigation
Suspended Notre Dame receiver DaVaris Daniels said he feels like a "villian" and an "outcast" in South Bend as a university investigation over alleged academic fraud drags on.
Daniels, along with four other players – defensive backs KeiVarae Russell and Eilar Hardy, defensive end Ishaq Williams and linebacker Kendall Moore – are all awaiting word on the outcome of the investigation.
The pass catcher has grown frustrated over the lengthy investigation and lack of communication from school officials.
"If they had enough evidence, you'd think it'd be over by now," Daniels, a redshirt senior and the team's second-leading receiver last season, told ESPN. "Nothing should take this long. That's just my opinion."
Daniels was notified by his school this week that his hearing with the Office of General Counsel will be next Friday. Daniels, Moore, Williams and Russell haven't been allowed to practice since Aug. 15. Hardy has been held out of practice since Aug. 29.
Daniels said he feels like an outcast on his own campus – a place where the suspended players have faced difficulty walking through or visiting the team's facility.
"It makes you feel like a villain. We'd go out to eat together, and people want to talk about the situation," Daniels said. "What do you say?"
School officials have been investigating the case since July. Allegations of academic dishonesty have been leveled against all five players, where a student trainer may have had heavy influence over class assignments. But Daniels told CBS Sports in August that he writes all his own papers.
The players are still on scholarship while attending classes, but Daniels said in-person interaction with the staff has been "fair but scarce." He's been told to "stay off the grid" by coaches.
Just a short time after he learned about the investigation on Twitter, Daniels said he was already receiving hateful messages from fans.
For Daniels, he feels powerless in the episode.
"We don't really feel we have options," he said. " ... If they keep dragging it out like this, then something's going to happen. I don't know what."