Notre Dame TE Alizé Mack suspended for Citrus Bowl against LSU

The hits keep coming for Notre Dame.

Less than a day after sophomore wide receiver Kevin Stepherson and freshman running back C.J. Holmes were suspended indefinitely for allegedly shoplifting, Irish head coach Brian Kelly announced on Thursday that junior tight end Alizé Mack has also been suspended for the Jan. 1 Citrus Bowl against No. 16 LSU.

Kelly emphasized that Mack has been suspended solely for the bowl game, not indefinitely. He added that the suspension is due to an "internal matter" and that it is not related to academics. Mack -- a 6-foot-5, 251-pound junior from Las Vegas -- was previously ruled academically ineligible for the 2016 season.

In his first season back from that academic suspension, Mack played in 10 games and caught 19 passes for 166 yards and a touchdown in 2017. He has 32 catches for 356 yards and the lone score in 23 career games.

Without Mack and freshman Brock Wright, who suffered a shoulder injury last week, Notre Dame will rely on graduate student Durham Smythe, senior Nic Weishar and freshman Cole Kmet at the tight end position against LSU (9-3).

Notre Dame (9-3) will also be without sophomore wide receiver Chase Claypool, who also suffered a shoulder injury in practice and had season-ending surgery this week.