Lewis had lost ground after 19 consecutive ND starts

SOUTH BEND – Already without star cornerback Benjamin Morrison this spring after recent shoulder surgery, Notre Dame football saw its depth diminish on Friday with Clarence Lewis’ departure as a graduate transfer.

According to multiple national reports, the 6-foot, 200-pound Lewis will look for a new destination after making 23 starts over the past four seasons. That included a run of 18 consecutive starts from 2020-22 before giving way to Morrison after an 0-2 start in 2022.

Lewis was at spring practice No. 6 on Wednesday, but the offseason additions of grad transfers Jordan Clark (Arizona State) and Rod Heard II (Northwestern) suggested Lewis’ playing time could again be limited in the fall.

The emergence of junior cornerback Jaden Mickey and underclassmen Christian Gray and Micah Bell also complicated matters for Lewis.

A product of Edison, N.J., Lewis has three career interceptions, including a 33-yard touchdown return against FCS-level Tennessee State last season. He also blocked a punt at Syracuse in 2022 as part of Notre Dame’s program record-tying total of seven blocked punts that year.

Lewis contributed 124 tackles (four for loss) along with three forced fumbles and 21 pass breakups. He was part of 440 special teams plays as a core contributor in his career, but finished with just two special teams tackles for the Irish.

The absence of slot corner Thomas Harper last season against Louisville (concussion) and Oregon State (bowl opt-out) provided Lewis with his final two starting opportunities. The Sun Bowl start marked the third time in four seasons that Lewis started in a bowl game.