UPDATE: Notre Dame football: Daniels out for spring

Notre Dame's DaVaris Daniels, the football team's leading returning receiver, has been suspended from school for the spring semester, Daniels told ESPN on Thursday.

"I understand that attending the University of Notre Dame is a privilege and with that comes a certain level of academic responsibility," Daniels told ESPN in a statement. "Therefore, I will not be attending Notre Dame in the spring semester but fully expect to re-enroll in the summer semester to earn my degree and continue playing football for the Irish."

A Notre Dame spokesman confirmed Daniels' statement and that he will not be enrolled for the spring, but could not comment further because of privacy laws.

“Small bump,” Daniels tweeted on his Twitter account early Thursday evening. “Not entering the draft. Can't wait to get back with my brothers this summer!”

The 6-foot-2, 203-pound Daniels caught 49 passes for 745 yards and seven touchdowns for the 9-4 Irish in 2013. Daniels will be a senior in the fall but retains two seasons of eligibility because he did not play as a freshman in 2011.

Daniels is the second Irish player in the past year to miss a semester because of an academic matter. Quarterback Everett Golson, who led Notre Dame to the 2012 BCS National Championship Game, was suspended for the recent fall semester because of academic misconduct and missed the entire 2013 season. Golson was recently readmitted to the university.

Irish basketball player Jerian Grant, the team's leading scorer, announced in late December that he was no longer enrolled at Notre Dame because of an academic matter and would miss the remainder of this season.

Earlier this week, junior defensive end Stephon Tuitt and junior running back George Atkinson III announced that they will forgo their senior seasons to enter the NFL Draft. Senior nose guard Louis Nix, who was eligible for a fifth year, also decided to enter the NFL draft.

Daniels was second on the team in receiving in 2013 to the graduated receiver TJ Jones. The product of Vernon Hills (Ill.) High School has caught 80 passes for 1,235 yards and seven touchdowns in two seasons at Notre Dame.

With Daniels out for the spring, a number of younger receivers will likely receive additional work. Junior-to-be Chris Brown caught a career-high five passes in the 29-16 win over Rutgers in the Dec. 28 Pinstripe Bowl.

Corey Robinson, James Onwualu and Will Fuller all played as true freshmen last fall, and fellow freshman Torii Hunter Jr., who did not play because he was recovering from a broken leg, was praised by Irish coach Brian Kelly for his upside. Junior-to-be C.J. Prosise, a converted defensive back, caught seven passes last season.

Incoming freshman receiver Justin Brent will enroll in school next week, which will allow him to participate in spring practice. ND's annual Blue-Gold Game will be played April 12.

BWieneke@SBTinfo.com

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Twitter: @BobWienekeNDI