Former Notre Dame recruit Vanderdoes wins NCAA appeal, can play for UCLA in 2013

Blue chip recruit Eddie Vanderdoes has won his appeal to the NCAA and will be eligible to play this season for UCLA after first signing a national letter of intent with Notre Dame.

Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said in a statement Wednesday he disagrees with the ruling, but respects the appeals process.

Vanderdoes, from Auburn, Calif., signed with the Fighting Irish in February, but decided later he wanted to stay closer to home because of an ailing family member.

Kelly declined to release the highly rated defensive tackle from his NLI, which meant that while Vanderdoes could attend UCLA this year he could not play until 2014 and would have only four years to play three seasons.

Now he will have the standard five years to play four seasons.