Notre Dame cornerback Munir Prince has decided to transfer, and three other Irish players have applied to return for fifth years.

Linebacker Maurice Crum Jr., a captain of last year's team, defensive end Justin Brown and cornerback Terrail Lambert have applied to the university to return next season for their final year of eligibility. While other schools redshirt players, Notre Dame players who do not participate for a season must earn their degrees and apply for permission to return for another season.

Crum was fourth on the team in tackles last season with 84. Lambert had 34 tackles and Brown made 30.

Prince, one of the quickest players on the Irish roster, was a tailback as a freshman, carrying the ball 15 times for 21 yards. He switched to cornerback last season and was in 10 games, making three tackles. He has decided to transfer to Missouri.

Both starting cornerbacks, Lambert and sophomore Darrin Walls, are expected back next season, and Prince was also behind several other reserves.

"After talking with Munir, he decided he'd like to leave our football team and the university," coach Charlie Weis said Tuesday. "I appreciate all Munir has done for our program and Notre Dame and wish him well in the future."

[More at www.mcall.com]
 

• Notre Dame staves off San Diego State
• Clausen, Irish ready for season to start now
• Backup role is Ok with Crist
• It's true: Weis really is letting offensive coordinator call plays
• Local College: ND Football —'Moving forward' the theme for Irish
• Notre Dame Football Position Preview: Quarterback
• Paterno nabs Hall of Fame slot
• Clausen on list
• ND cornerback Darrin Walls won't play in '08
• Notre Dame Inside Slant
• Living out an Irish football dream
• Parcells, Parmalee pulling for Notre Dame turnaround
• Outside linebacker Dan Fox fulfills dream, commits to Notre Dame
• N.J. linebacker honors mom with Notre Dame selection
• SU expects to see best of Irish
• Charlie Weis Appointed To President's Committee For People With Intellectual Disabilities
• Weis encouraged by Notre Dame's potential
• Healthy Clausen finds comfort zone, end zone
• Team captains draw attention at NFL draft
• Offensive line displays improvement in spring
• Clausen set for spring
• Football camp to offer tips from ex-NFL players
• Spring offers promise of Notre Dame recovery, BYU breakthrough
• Mike Brey brings winning back to Notre Dame
• Irish hold off Demons
• Prospects flock to ND
• Irish try their luck against Scarlet Knights
• Irish land top class of non-BCS conference schools
• Jon Tenuta to join Irish football staff
• Recruiting race coming right down to the wire
• Pitt Football Non-Conference Schedule Announced
• Lots of love for Notre Dame stars of the past
• The Future is Bright for the Irish
• Prince Transferring From Notre Dame, 3 Others Seek Eligibility
• Freshman-led Notre Dame finishes off season with hard-fought win at Stanford
• Notre Dame Recruits Shine in All-Star Game
• Rivals.com Football Recruiting
• Finalists Named For U.S. Army Player Of The Year
• Team Report: Strategy and Personnel
• Football: Weis: Clausen could be 'something special'
• Clausen: a work progressing
• Weis' Irish legacy can go either way
• Irish try to avoid going winless at home
• Notre Dame settles QB question with Clausen
• The Friday 5 Spot: Media blackout enlightenment, Clausen at QB, and more
• Jimmy Clausen Has His Starting Job Back
• Clausen might start for Notre Dame again
• For Irish, 'it can't get much worse' than 1-8
• Middies may be cure for ailing Irish offense
• A peek into the future of Notre Dame football
• Weis wants to see signs of hope for next season
• Clausen, Irish hungry to turn things around
• Football: Sharpley struggles in start
• Weekend Watch List: A&M-Nebraska; looked good in August
• Clausen's time will come
• Clausen or Sharpley? Answer to come Tuesday
• 'Homecoming' victory leaves Clausen speechless
• Stage is set for Clausen-Olson showdown
• If healthy, Clausen will play
• Monday Morning quarterback
• ND's Clausen being through in the fire early
• Timing is everything
• Weis on Clausen: 'He's far from being the problem'
• First three Notre Dame losses really strain the brain
• Weis stunned departed QB Demetrius Jones with announcement that Clausen was starter
• Clausen had no chance
• Freshman Clausen will start, but running QB Jones could play vs. Wolverines
• Michigan QB Henne out vs. Notre Dame
• Weis says Clausen did well
• Clausen ND’s rock star
• Ex-Lion and Spartan Rogers to try comeback in CFL
• Jimmy Clausen faces misdemeanor charges
• Hard to chart ND's depth
• Irish still have eyes on three quarterbacks ... for now
• College football: No Rebuilding Project
• Weis not giving any hints on Notre Dame quarterback
• Will hype devour Clausen?
• WR Julio Jones tops 2008 ESPN 150
• Here Come the Irish
• 2007 Preview: Notre Dame Offense
• Area teams take field in 7 on 7 passing games
• The QB Intrigue at Notre Dame Continues
• Team Report: Inside Slant
• Frazer to join Huskies
• Potter will go from WR to QB in hopes of picking up where Clausen left off
• Illinois' Benn, ND's Clausen impact newcomers for 2007
• Boise State lands wide receiver recruit from California high school
• Report: Clausen had elbow procedure
• Frazer Knocked Out Of Notre Dame Quarterback Battle, Signal-Caller To Transfer After Learning He Won't Start
• NCAA Football Roundup
• 2007 Fantasy College QB Rankings
• Kentucky signee facing felony charge
• Drug Allegation Nearly Sidelines Notre Dame Quarterback
• Marijuana charge against Notre Dame QB dismissed
• 2007 Incoming Freshmen Recruiting DVD: Jimmy Clausen
• Notre Dame heavier on defensive recruiting for '08
• Inside Dish: Introducing the next two-sport star
• Team Report: Inside Slant
• For Notre Dame, two QBs may be better than one
• Free fall fallout
• Number of football early risers up this spring
• Jabbie outshines highly touted Clausen
• Next Irish quarterback? Weis isn't giving any clues
• Sense of charity is Taylor-made
• Clausen is growing up
• ACC will face tough, early slate to start next season
• Potter's switch a Catch-22
• Weis, media drenched in open practice
• Transfer trouble
• Weis not playing favorites in QB competition
• Golden boy to share spotlight
• Best recruits by position
• Clausen goes to head of the class
• Scrutiny squarely on Notre Dame's Clausen.
• Jimmy Clausen is ready to start Notre Dame career.
• Notre Dame future starts with new quarterback.

Improved Clausen ready for Wolverines (Macomb Daily) SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Michigan won't see the same Jimmy Clausen it rattled a year ago when the Wolverines embarrassed Notre Dame 38-0. Clausen was making just his second start and the Wolverines took advantage.

Turnovers doom the Irish (22 WSBT South Bend) Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen looks downfield for a receiver during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game against Michigan State, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2008 in East Lansing, Mich. Clausen was 24-of-41 for 242 yards with a TD and two interceptions, one in the end zone on a play that was overturned by a video review.

The kickoff: Javon Ringer's the hero, Jimmy Clausen the goat from Saturday's game (Detroit Free Press) Hero - Javon Ringer MSU's star running back gained 201 yards on 39 carries and scored the final TD of the game to secure the victory.

Discomforts of the road suit Weis, Clausen (South Bend Tribune) EAST LANSING, Mich. -- These are the kind of days Charlie Weis doesn't have to say much to Notre Dame sophomore quarterback Jimmy Clausen.

Rick Shepich: No deja vu for Spartans this year (Livingston County Daily Press & Argus) EAST LANSING — When Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen found Michael Floyd on a 26-yard touchdown pass to open the fourth quarter at Spartan Stadium Saturday, I, for one, saw the ghosts of Michigan State games past start to stir.

Irish take big step back (Chicago Sun-Times) EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Jimmy Clausen, his surfer-dude blond hair slicked back with sweat, stared vacantly ahead as white-clad fans at Spartan Stadium celebrated and Notre Dame Nation came to the realization that, despite a 2-0 start, the Irish had in many ways arrived back at square one.

MSU hot topics: the defense, the passing game and the kicking game (Detroit Free Press) This is the type of defense that old-school Michigan State fans like to see. The front seven delivered hard hits and sacked Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen three times. The secondary also provided good pass defenses and held the Irish to 242 yards passing.

Irish searching for identity (The Courier News) EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Jimmy Clausen, his surfer-dude blonde hair slicked back with sweat, stared vacantly ahead as white-clad fans at Spartan Stadium celebrated and Notre Dame Nation came to the realization that despite a 2-0 start, the Irish had in many ways arrived back at square one.

Ringer rules — MSU back carries Spartans again (Livingston County Daily Press & Argus) EAST LANSING — When Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen connected with Michael Floyd for a 26-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter, the Michigan State football program had every reason to flash back to 2006.

Defense sets tone as MSU stifles Notre Dame (Detroit News) Otis Wiley collects two interceptions and the rest of the Spartans defense pressured Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen early and often as MSU beat Notre Dame, 23-7.