Release from University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame running back
Cierre Wood announced today he will forgo his final season of athletic
eligibility and submit his name for the 2013 NFL Draft.
Wood leaves Notre Dame as the seventh-leading rusher in
school history, having gained 2,447 yards on 450 career carries. No running
back in Notre Dame history with as many career rushes as Wood has a better
yards-per-rush average as his 5.4 yards-per-carry average.
"Having to make a decision like whether to stay in school
or leave to pursue a lifelong dream of playing in the NFL is never simple,"
Wood said. "I had to weigh many factors over the last month, but ultimately it
came down to what I felt was the right decision that would most benefit my
family. With that in mind, I'm leaving Notre Dame and am entering my name for
this year's NFL Draft.
"There are so many people I need to thank that have helped
get me to this point. My teammates are friends I know I'll have the rest of my
life. I'll miss hanging out with them in the locker room and around campus.
They are a great group of guys and are poised for success next year.
"I also want to thank all of the coaches, specifically
Coach Kelly and Coach Alford. Coach Kelly has the program heading in the right
direction and I'm happy to know he'll remain our head coach in the future.
Coach Alford has been so much more than a coach to me. He's been a mentor and a
role model. He's helped turn me into the man I am today.
"Lastly, I want to thank the school, our fans and the
extended Notre Dame family. The love and appreciation you've shown me in my
four years can never be repaid. I'll always remember the ovation I received as
I ran out of the tunnel on senior day and I can't thank you enough."
Wood became the 16th Notre Dame running back to
eclipse 2,000 career rushing yards and his 52 career receptions are tied for
eighth all-time among Notre Dame running backs. He started 18 of 37 career
games played for the Irish and scored 18 total touchdowns at Notre Dame (16
rushing and two receiving).
"Cierre has been an important member of our football team
in my three years at Notre Dame and I appreciate all he did to help get our
program back on top," Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly said. "I wish him well
in the future and hope he has a successful playing career at the next level."
Wood totaled 742 rushing yards in 2012 and was Notre Dame's
second-leading rusher. He averaged 6.5 yards per carry and scored four rushing
touchdowns this year. Wood posted a season-best 150 rushing yards on 11 carries
on senior day vs. Wake Forest and recorded 114 yards on 18 carries against BYU.
Perhaps Wood's most memorable run was the 62-yard touchdown at Oklahoma that
gave the Irish a 7-3 lead vs. the Sooners.
In 2011, Wood registered the 16th 1,000-yard
rushing season in school history as he paced the Irish with 1,102 yards on 217
rushes and added nine touchdowns. He caught a career-high 27 passes for 189
yards and Wood's 1,291 total yards from scrimmage in 2011 were the ninth most
in school history.
After sitting out his freshman season, Wood led the Irish
in 2010 with 603 rushing yards and averaged 5.1 yards per carry. He added 20
receptions for 170 yards and two receiving touchdowns and returned 15 kickoffs
for 300 yards.
Wood's Place in the Notre Dame Record Books
Career Rushing Yards – 7th,
2,447
Career Receptions by a Running
Back – tied 8th, 52
Career Yards from Scrimmage – 9th,
2,831
Career 100-Yard Rushing Games – 12th,
6
Single-Season Yards from Scrimmage
– 9th, 1,291 (2011)
Single-Season TD Receptions by a
Running Back – tied 9th, 2 (2010)
Single-Season Receptions by a
Running Back – 10th, 27 (2011)
Single-Game Yards per Rush – 4th,
13.6 (2012 vs. Wake Forest)
