After hiring an agent this spring during an attempt to enter theNFL Draft, USC wide receiver Mike Williams was barred from the NCAA– even after firing the agent.
Now, the ex-Trojan has hired two more: Tony Fleming and MitchFrankel of Impact Sports Management. Both will represent Williamsin his bid to be selected in next April’s first round.
Williams will continue to attend USC, where he will train toprepare for an NFL career, Fleming said.
Many pundits felt Williams would have been a top-15 pick lastyear had he been eligible, which he was — for a while.
After Ohio State running back Maurice Clarett challenged theNFL’s age rule, which states that players are not eligible for thedraft until three seasons after their high school graduations, acourt ruled in Clarett’s favor.
Williams, a sophomore at the time, hired agent Mike Azzarelli inApril and declared for the draft, but an appellate court lateroverturned the ruling, barring Williams and othersophomore-or-younger hopefuls from that year’s draft.
Williams then fired his agent and tried to rejoin the Trojans,but the NCAA does not allow its athletes to hire sports-relatedrepresentation.
Williams had 95 catches for 1,314 yards and a USC record 16touchdowns last year, when the Trojans were co-national championswith LSU.
Weed woes
Three North Carolina players were suspended indefinitely Mondayafter campus police cited them for possession of marijuana, schoolofficials said.
Wide receiver Adarius Bowman, linebacker Fred Sparkman anddefensive tackle Isaiah Thomas, all sophomores, were cited lateSunday.
“I can’t remember a time when I was more disappointed,” coachJohn Bunting said.
The suspensions came on the heels of North Carolina’s 30-24upset win over rival North Carolina State.
“The last thing we need after an exciting win like we hadSaturday evening was an off-the-field situation that wouldembarrass the university and this football program,” Buntingsaid.
Bowman and Sparkman each made big contributions Saturday, withSparkman leading the team with 10 tackles and Bowman catching a46-yard fourth-quarter touchdown pass.
Sparkman leads the Tar Heels with 61 tackles this season, whileBowman has 18 catches for a team-leading 329 yards and threetouchdowns. Thomas has nine tackles.
The Tar Heels (3-3) must heal their wounds quickly, as theytravel to No. 11 Utah on Saturday.
Knee-deep in injuries
No. 8 California will be without one of its top players for theremainder of the season, a team spokesman said.
Senior wide receiver Chase Lyman, first on the team and 10th inthe nation in receiving yards per game and first in the nation inyards per catch, underwent surgery Monday to repair a torn ligamentin his left knee.
The Golden Bears’ receiver injured the knee during Saturday’s23-16 loss to No. 1 USC.
Lyman has a history of injuries at California (3-1). He has beenslowed by appendicitis, as well as various injuries to his ankles,groin, hamstrings and hips.
“I feel bad for Chase,” California coach Jeff Tedford saidTuesday. “He just can’t get a break.
“He’s invested so much time and energy into coming back andbecoming a great player.”
Lyman’s likely replacement is senior Jonathan Mankonnen, Cal’stop receiver in 2002 before going down with an injury in 2003.Mankonen has two receptions for 22 yards this year.
The Golden Bears host PAC-10 foe UCLA (4-1) on Saturday.
Reach Patrick Dorsey at [email protected].
