When former Notre Dame defensive lineman Junior Tuihalamaka was granted another year of eligibility on Thursday, many wondered if a reunion with the Irish was possible.
Then, Tuihalamaka quickly entered the transfer portal and committed to LSU on Friday. More than 15 football players, including Tuihalamaka, were awarded a temporary restraining order (TRO) by a Louisiana judge on Wednesday to have a fifth year of eligibility.
Questions were raised as to why Notre Dame coach Marcus Freeman didn’t bring back Tuihalamaka or consider the other available players.
But for Freeman and the Irish, it was never in the cards. ESPN’s Adam Rittenberg reported that Freeman said it was “too late” to consider additional eligible athletes, including Tuihalamaka.
“For us at Notre Dame, it’s just too late [with] the graduate admissions process, and I don't think it would put a person in a good situation this late – school starts on Monday – to have success in the classroom and on the field, so that's been our stance on it,” Freeman said to reporters on Friday. “Our admissions have already done their admissions and cycles. That's where the university and the athletic program stands right now.”
Tuihalamaka appeared in 54 games through four seasons with the Irish. He recorded 61 tackles, four sacks, three pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and an interception.
Marcus Freeman gives Notre Dame’s stance on NFL players entering the NCAA transfer portal pic.twitter.com/rSm8itboag
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This article originally appeared on Fighting Irish Wire: Marcus Freeman explains why Junior Tuihalamaka reunion didn’t happen
