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Notre Dame DT Alex Ehrensberger to leave program, return to Germany

IMG_9992by: Tyler Horka05/11/23tbhorka
On3 image
Notre Dame defensive lineman Alexander Ehrensberger. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Another scholarship player is on the way out of the Notre Dame football program. Although this time, it’s not via the transfer portal. It’s for a cause Fighting Irish fans can all rally behind.

Senior defensive lineman Alexander Ehrensberger is leaving the program after obtaining two degrees from the university and is returning to his native Germany to pursue a career in the medical field. He made the announcement via an Instagram video.

Here’s Ehrensberger’s full statement:

“Dear Notre Dame,

“Thank you. This was always a dream of mine. To put on that golden helmet, to play in front of the best crowd in America, to work through times of adversity with my brothers — all while getting a double degree. It was a dream come true, and it’s hard to say goodbye.

“But I have made the decision to chase my next dream and go to med school back home in Germany. Thank you for everything, Notre Dame. Thank you for letting me be part of your family. For letting me make this place home for now and for forever.

Go Irish.”

Ehrensberger arrived at Notre Dame as a three-star recruit in the class of 2020. He was profiled as an edge rusher out of Dusseldorf, Germany. At 6-7 and 267 pounds, Ehrensberger always had an imposing presence. It never quite translated to copious success in South Bend, though.

In three seasons, Ehrensberger played 116 defensive snaps. A career-high 77 of those came in 2021. Last year, he only played 25. Ehrensberger was working out as a reserve defensive tackle instead of on the edge this past spring. He was in the mix with Tyson Ford as a third-string option behind senior Rylie Mills and junior Gabriel Rubio.

Several players have left Notre Dame this offseason via the portal. Quarterback Tyler Buchner went to Alabama, and wide receiver/defensive back Lorenzo Styles went to Ohio State. Running back Logan Diggs and linebacker Prince Kollie are undecided on their next destinations.

The Ehrensberger news brings Notre Dame down to 81 scholarship players, well under the NCAA-mandated limit of 85. In the spring there were murmurs of how the Irish might whittle the roster down below 85. Now, they is comfortable room to add last-second portal additions and/or promote walk-ons to scholarship status.

It’s not every day a player decides to forego two years of eligibility to pursue a medical career in Europe, but in this event it has helped Notre Dame from a roster maintenance perspective. And Notre Dame surely helped Ehrensberger with the next chapter of his life, too.

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