Notre Dame football: Kelly comments on Vanderdoes

A day after former Notre Dame football recruit Eddie Vanderdoes was released from his national letter-of-intent on his second appeal, the now-UCLA freshman defensive lineman took to Twitter in breaking a long self-imposed silence.

“Nice knowing I get to play this Fall! & glad I had the opportunity to finally speak to the NCAA & explain my 4 reasons. Finally History now!,” the five-star prospect from Auburn, Calif., wrote. “Now I get to go about my own business & focus on getting better! all this time of having to be silenced for so long is finally off my back!

“No hate towards anyone frm ND or any real ND fan out their! Wish The Irish the best of luck regardless this season!”

Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly, who declined to release Vanderdoes, issued a statement of his own through the university’s sports information department:

“While I disagree with yesterday’s decision by the NCAA National Letter of Intent Appeals Committee to reverse its original ruling and grant Eddie Vanderdoes a complete release from his NLI, I understand and respect the entire appeal process,” Kelly said.

“However, this result does not change my opinion concerning the importance of protecting the integrity of the NLI program, nor will it change our approach to the process going forward.”