SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Former Notre Dame defensive end Aaron Lynch, who left the team earlier this month, requested to be released only to South Florida, sources close to the situation told ESPN.com Friday.
Lynch, a sophomore from Cape Coral, Fla., is still enrolled in classes at Notre Dame but intends to transfer to South Florida this summer, sources said.
Lynch, 6-foot-6 and 270 pounds, was considered one of Notre Dame's most promising young players. He was named a freshman All-American by the Football Writers Association of America after totaling 33 tackles, seven tackles for loss and 5½ sacks in 2011.
Lynch is transferring to South Florida to be closer to his girlfriend, who attends school in Tampa, according to sources.
"You never want to lose a great player," Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said. "But if it's not the right fit, you want to find them the right fit."
Kelly said the emergence of sophomore Ishaq Williams this spring has helped lessen the blow of losing Lynch.
The Fighting Irish also return junior nose guard Louis Nix III and senior end Kapron Lewis-Moore.
The Bulls are coached by Skip Holtz, son of former Notre Dame coach Lou Holtz, now an analyst with ESPN.