Notre Dame's offense just got a little thinner for its trip overseas to face Navy, as the school announced via Twitter that starting running back Cierre Wood will be suspended two games. In addition, junior defensive end Justin Utupo is also suspended. They join quarterback Tommy Rees and linebacker Carlo Calabrese as players not traveling with the Irish to Dublin.
"Our players are aware of the standards I set for our program and that failure to meet my expectations will result in consequences," head coach Brian Kelly said in a statement. "Justin and Cierre violated our team rules so I've suspended them for the first two games of the season."
Wood rushed for a team-high 1,102 yards and nine touchdowns as a junior in 2011. Luckily for the Irish, running back isn't a position of concern, as Theo Riddick and George Atkinson will be able to fill in handsomely for Wood. Still, if Wood were to miss time long term, it could affect Notre Dame's rushing attack, as well as his draft status.
The team is expected to leave for Dublin on Wednesday.
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