Irish WR Corey Robinson to quit football after third concussion

Notre Dame wide receiver Corey Robinson, who recently suffered his third concussion in the past year, announced Wednesday he will no longer play football.

The school also tweeted that Robinson will not play in the upcoming season but "will continue to serve as a leader for the program."

"After much contemplation and prayer, I have decided not to continue playing football due to multiple concussions," Robinson said in a statement. "I couldn't have come to this difficult personal decision without the incredible support from so many within the Notre Dame football program. I am extremely thankful to Coach [Brian] Kelly and his staff for the life-changing opportunity to play football at the greatest university in the world.

"I will continue to help our team as a student assistant and look forward to a great senior year."

Robinson, the son of basketball Hall of FamerDavid Robinson, played in12 games last season for the Fighting Irish, catching 16 passes for 200 yards and a touchdown.

A rising senior who was elected Notre Dame's student-body president in February, Robinson had wrestled with the decision to return after the 2015 season. He had the chance to graduate in May and explore other opportunities, including becoming an ACE teaching fellow and volunteering in Brazil. But Robinson said he had spoken with family, teammates and friends for advice before deciding to return.

Robinson suffered a concussion early in spring ball, his third since the spring of 2015, forcing him to re-evaluate his options for the 2016 season. Kelly had said in the spring that Robinson and his family met with Dr. Jeff Kutcher, the national director of the Sports Neurology Clinic, and Robinson remained sidelined through the rest of spring ball.

With 65 catches for 896 yards and seven touchdowns during his 38-game college career, Robinson would have been the leading returning receiver next season for Notre Dame, which lostWill Fullerto the NFL draft.

Robinson, who is 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, is a former ESPN three-star prospect out of San Antonio Christian High in Texas. Redshirt junior Torii Hunter Jr. is now Notre Dame's top returning wide receiver, having amassed 35 catches for 428 yards and three touchdowns during his career.

The rest of Notre Dame's returning wide receivers and tight ends for 2016 have combined for 22 catches, 242 yards and one touchdown.