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Stepherson among 4 Notre Dame football players dismissed from team

(AP) — Notre Dame wide receiver Kevin Stepherson, who was suspended for the Fighting Irish’s Citrus Bowl against LSU after being accused of shoplifting, and three other players have been dismissed from the team.

Athletic department spokesman Michael Bertsch said Tuesday night that Stepherson, sophomore running backs Deon McIntosh and CJ Holmes and junior defensive tackle Brandon Tiassum were no longer with the team. No other details were provided.

Stepherson, a junior, caught 19 passes for 359 yards and five touchdowns this season. He was held out of the first five games of 2017, though Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly never explained why.

Stepherson and Holmes were arrested in December for shoplifting at a South Bend, Indiana, area mall. McIntosh was sent home from the bowl for a violation of team rules.