August 9, 2009

USF rejecting qualified recruits, Nick Saban is silent

Alabama coach Nick Saban fired a few broadsides at USF two years ago, suggesting that the Bulls were climbing the ladder by taking shortcuts on academic admissions.

Fast forward to today, which finds a third USF recruit, Gerard Atkins, rejected by the Bulls academic committee despite exceeding the NCAA standards for player admissions.

"I don't know how it happened," said Atkins, a tight end from Dixie Hollins High School. "I did everything USF asked me to do. The committee said my grades were on a downward trend, but they improved my last semester. I don't understand the process."

Atkins said he had a 3.5 GPA in his final semester at Dixie and finished with an overall 2.5 GPA. He also said he scored a 910 on the SAT.

Since he was denied admission, Atkins is free from his signed letter-of-intent and now may sign at any school. The Tampa Tribune article says that Louisville is interested in signing the 6' 5" tight end, but he may enroll at community college and reapply to USF.

USF recruits Kamran Joyer and Khyri Thornton also met NCAA qualifying standards, but were denied admission by USF's academic committee. Joyer is now at Louisville and Thornton is at Southern Miss.

And Nick Saban? Well... so far Nick is silent.

Comments:

USF rejecting qualified recruits, Nick Saban is silent
Alabama coach Nick Saban fired a few broadsides at USF two years ago, suggesting that the Bulls were climbing the ladder by taking shortcuts on academic admissions. Fast forward to today, which finds a third USF recruit, Gerard Atkins, rejected by the Bulls academic committee despite exceeding the NCAA standards for player admissions.
"I don't know how it happened," said Atkins, a tight end from Dixie Hollins High School. "I did everything USF asked me to do. The committee said my grades were on a downward trend, but they improved my last semester. I don't understand the process." Atkins said he had a 3.5 GPA in his final semester at Dixie and finished with an overall 2.5 GPA. He also said he scored a 910 on the SAT.
Since he was denied admission, Atkins is free from his signed letter-of-intent and now may sign at any school. The Tampa Tribune article says that Louisville is interested in signing the 6' 5" tight end, but he may enroll at community college and reapply to USF. USF recruits Kamran Joyer and Khyri Thornton also met NCAA qualifying standards, but were denied admission by USF's academic committee. Joyer is now at Louisville and Thornton is at Southern Miss. And Nick Saban? Well... so far Nick is silent.