College Football

Notre Dame suspends Blankenship, awaits Robinson decision

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 5:43 p.m. ET

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Notre Dame wide receiver Corey Robinson is deciding whether he will continue to play football as he deals with lingering effects from a concussion and defensive lineman Grant Blankenship is waiting to hear whether he has a future with the team after being suspended for violating unspecified team rules.

Robinson, the son of NBA Hall of Famer David Robinson, met this week with Dr. Jeffrey Kutcher, a sports neurologist who specializes in concussion management and treatment, to talk about his multiple concussions, coach Brian Kelly said Friday.

"I think it was an extremely educational meeting for him. I'm very hesitant to go into the details, because I think that's a private matter for Corey. But I know this, he came back feeling really good about the meeting," Kelly said.

Kelly said he expects a decision from Robinson in the next several weeks. Robinson was at practice Friday but was not in uniform as the team prepared for its spring game Saturday. He hasn't practiced since being injured during the first week of practice last month.

"He understands he has to make a decision pretty quickly," Kelly said.

The 6-foot-5, 215-pound Robinson, who is from San Antonio and was recently elected student body president, is Notre Dame's most experienced returning receiver, with 65 catches for 896 yards and seven touchdowns. The Irish lost four of their top five receivers from last season, with Torii Hunter Jr. the only returner with more catches last season than Robinson.

Robinson had a disappointing junior season last year as he struggled with dropped passes, finishing sixth on the team in receptions with 16 catches for 200 yards with one touchdown. A season earlier, he was second on the team with 40 catches for 539 yards and five touchdowns.

Kelly said the reason for Blankenship's suspension was "the standards that are set within the program have not been met." When asked whether Blankenship is expected to return to the team, Kelly said: "That's yet to be determined."

Kelly said he plans to meet with Blankenship. The 6-foot-5, 278-pound Blankenship from The Colony, Texas, had 12 tackles as a freshman, playing in 11 games, but as a sophomore last season got in only three games and had one tackle.

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