Jan. 10, 2015
NOTRE DAME, Ind. – University of Notre Dame junior defensive lineman Sheldon Day (Indianapolis, Indiana/Warren Central High School) announced today he will remain at Notre Dame for his senior year and not enter the 2015 NFL Draft.
“After talking with my family, friends and coaches at Notre Dame, I’ve decided to return for my senior year with the Irish,” Day said. “While the process leading up to this decision was difficult, ultimately my decision to return was easy. I love this school, my teammates and this coaching staff. I just felt it was in my best interest to play another year for Notre Dame.
“I believe we’ve got an opportunity to have a special season in 2015 and I wanted to be a part of that success. I was blessed to play in the national championship game as a freshman in 2012, and I want to do everything in my power to reach that stage again with my guys.”
“It pretty much goes without saying that I’m excited to know that Sheldon has chosen to return for his senior year at Notre Dame,” said head coach Brian Kelly. “Most importantly, this decision keeps him on track to graduate in May.
“He’s an outstanding player, and makes a major difference on the field for our team, but Sheldon’s impact goes beyond success on the field. His leadership as a captain in our program has been instrumental, and I look forward to him carrying this role into 2015.”
A 2014 Outland Trophy Watch List selection, Notre Dame Moose Krause Lineman of the Year and Irish co-captain, Day registered 40 tackles, 24 solo stops, seven and a half tackles for loss, one sack, nine quarterback hurries, two passes defended, two pass breakups and two fumble recoveries this past season. He ranked second on the team in quarterback hurries and tied for second in tackles for loss. Day’s 40 tackles tied for the most among all Notre Dame defensive linemen.
Day started the first 10 games of the 2014 season before a knee injury against Northwestern (Nov. 15) sidelined him against Louisville (Nov. 22) and USC (Nov. 29). He returned to the Irish starting lineup, picked up a pair of tackles and recovered a fumble in Notre Dame’s 31-28 victory over No. 22 LSU in the 2014 Franklin American Mortgage Music City Bowl.
Day dominated the Michigan offensive line in Notre Dame’s 31-0 victory over the Wolverines (Sept. 6). He recorded five tackles, including a half tackle for loss, and four quarterback hurries. Day registered five tackles, four solo stops, two for loss and one quarterback hurry in the 31-15 Irish victory over Syracuse (Sept. 27).
On pace to graduate in May 2015, Day is majoring in management-consulting in Notre Dame’s prestigious Mendoza College of Business – the five-time reigning No. 1 undergraduate business school in the nation according to Bloomberg BusinessWeek.
“My dream of playing in the National Football League remains strong, but when I chose to attend Notre Dame three years ago, I planned on earning a degree from this University,” Day said. “I’m only one semester away from reaching that goal. A diploma from Notre Dame is truly special, and ultimately, it wasn’t something I was willing to possibly leave on the table.”
Day has started 19 of his 35 career games played. He has collected 96 tackles, 58 solo stops, 16.5 tackles for loss, 11 quarterback hurries, three and a half sacks, four passes defended and two fumble recoveries. He started eight games as a sophomore in 2013, making 33 tackles, and played in all 13 games off the bench (making 23 tackles) as a freshman in 2012 when the Irish played in the Bowl Championship Series title game.
— ND —