College football: Neal will likely sit out season

Former Notre Dame wide receiver/punt returner Davonte’ Neal, who transferred to Arizona, is not expected to play in 2013, the Arizona Daily Star reported.

Neal, who played at Chaparral High in Scottsdale, Ariz., transferred to Arizona to be closer to his infant daughter and girlfriend in Scottsdale. NCAA transfer rules stipulate that a player must sit out one season after transferring, but Neal, who played at ND in 2012, applied for a hardship waiver in an attempt to play immediately.

“I don’t believe he’s going to be eligible,” Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez told the Daily Star.

If Neal sits this season, he would have three seasons of eligibility remaining, beginning in 2014. Neal played in all 13 games for the Irish last season, catching one pass for minus-5 yards. He was ND’s primary punt return man, returning 21 punts for 46 yards, a 2.2-yard average.