Notre Dame has lost one of its top offensive weapons for the 2016 season.
Sophomore tight end Alize Jones will not play this season, though he'll remain on the roster and can practice, coach Brian Kelly announced Wednesday night.
Jones tweeted earlier a message of apology, hinting at academic shortcomings and saying that he planned to remain with the Fighting Irish.
I will be back stronger #GoIrish pic.twitter.com/bOJyoFUK46
— Alizé Jones (@AlizeJones8) August 3, 2016
Hailing from Las Vegas power Bishop Gorman, Jones was ESPN's No. 1 tight end recruit in 2015. As a true freshman last season, he played in all 13 games and started five for the Irish, catching 13 passes for 190 yards.
Jones would have been Notre Dame's second-leading returning pass-catcher in 2016, behind Torii Hunter Jr. At 6-foot-4½, 240 pounds, he figured to be split wide as a receiver much more this season after the summer retirement of receiver Corey Robinson (concussions).
Outside of Hunter, Notre Dame's available receivers and tight ends enter 2016 with a combined nine career catches for 52 yards and one touchdown.