SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Notre Dame has suspended starting tailback Cierre Wood two games for violating team rules.
Wood led the Irish in rushing last year with 1,102 yards and scored nine rushing touchdowns while averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Wood, a senior, played in all 13 games in 2011 with nine starts. Theo Riddick and George Atkinson III will likely be the Irish’s top two ball carriers now that Wood is out.
Coach Brian Kelly also announced Sunday that junior defensive end Justin Utupo was suspended for games against Navy in Dublin, Ireland on Sept. 1 and the home opener the following Saturday against Purdue.
Kelly earlier suspended quarterback Tommy Rees and linebacker Carlo Calabrese for their roles in a skirmish with police following an off-campus party in May.
