Notre Dame junior guard Steve Elmer will leave the football program after graduating from the university in three years to pursue other opportunities, he announced today.

"After 3 unforgettable years, I've decided to forgo my final season of athletic eligibility. I'll always be Irish!," he posted on Twitter. He also penned a column on UND.com explaining the decision.

"Let’s get the hard part out of the way first: I am writing to inform you that I have decided to forgo my final season of athletic eligibility at the University of Notre Dame, and I have no interest in pursuing a spot on an NFL roster," he wrote.

Elmer started 30 games for the Irish the past three seasons and played in 36 overall. He was a rare freshman contributor along the offensive line in 2013 during the second half of the season.

In 2014, he started the first three games at right tackle before the coaching staff reshuffled the offensive line. After the changes, he started the final 23 games of his career at right guard.

Elmer participated in Notre Dame’s early enrollee program when he arrived at the university in Jan. 2013. Known as one of the best students on the team, the economics major is set to graduate after only three years.

“Notre Dame is a special place that develops unique and talented people," head coach Brian Kelly said in a statement. "Steve Elmer is such a person. He chose Notre Dame to earn a degree from the top University in the world and play football at the highest level. He’s accomplished both and so much more.

“This is an incredible professional opportunity for Steve. We as a coaching staff talk about how attending Notre Dame isn’t a four-year decision; rather it’s a 40-year investment into your life. This University provides so many different avenues toward success, whether that’s on the football field or in the boardroom and Steve’s another outstanding example.”

Out of high school, Elmer was rated as a four-start prospect by Rivals.com, the No. 5 offensive tackle, the No. 60 player in the nation and the top prospect from the state of Michigan.

Despite Elmer departing, Notre Dame has a number of options on a starting offensive line that also loses left tackle Ronnie Stanley and center Nick Martin. Sophomore Quenton Nelson and junior right tackle Mike McGlinchey are the returning starters, with options including sophomore Alex Bars, junior Hunter Bivin junior Colin McGovern, sophomore Sam Mustipher and freshman Tristen Hoge at the various offensive line positions.

The Irish welcome 2016 freshmen Liam Eichenberg, Tommy Kraemer and Parker Boudreaux into the program and redshirted Hoge and Trevor Ruhland in 2015.