Dwight Jones might be able to play his college football at North Carolina after all.
Jones' mother, Deborah, said yesterday that North Carolina athletics officials called the family at their Burlington home on Monday to inform them that Jones is academically eligible because of an oversight in determining his status. While reviewing the academic status of another player who is enrolling this month, the officials made the discovery, according to Jones' mother.
Jones should have been judged by 2007 NCAA academic standards -- the year in which he graduated high school -- when two less core curriculum credits were needed for eligibility than the more stringent 2008 standards for this year's high-school graduates. The other player, a graduate this year, was judged by the 2008 standards.
Jones attended Hargrave Military Academy in Chatham, Va., last year while shoring up his academics to qualify to enroll at North Carolina. Jones, a 6-5 receiver, was ranked the state's No. 1 senior after the 2006 high-school season at Cummings High School.
Jones thought last month that he was still ineligible at North Carolina and decided to attend Valdosta State, an NCAA Division II school in Georgia where yesterday he went through his fourth day of football practice. Jones will now have to decide whether to stay at Valdosta State or to enroll at North Carolina.
"We haven't made any decision about anything," Deborah Jones said. "We really don't know what's going to happen. We're trying to go over everything with a fine-tooth comb. It's something about the rules and regulations with the NCAA."
Athletics Director Dick Baddour of North Carolina declined to comment because the situation involves a student who is attending another school.
Jones declined to talk about his plans through a Valdosta State athletics official. Athletics Director Herb Reinhard of Valdosta State said in a prepared statement that Jones will be allowed to talk to university officials about enrolling in school in Chapel Hill.
"We have discussed the situation with Dwight and have given North Carolina permission to speak with him," Reinhard said. "However, at this time he is enrolled at Valdosta State and is practicing with our football team. We plan on continuing under these pretenses."
If Jones decides to attend North Carolina, the possibility exists that he could be eligible this season, according to Shane Lyons, an ACC associate commissioner for governance and compliance.
Jones would be considered a transfer student because he has participated in football practice at Valdosta State. Athletes who transfer up a division must sit out one season under NCAA rules, but Jones' situation could qualify for a waiver of the transfer rule because of a misapplication of other rules.
Jones and North Carolina would have to appeal to the NCAA and the administrative review subcommittee.
"There is an opening for them to try to get a waiver from the NCAA rules based on the mitigating circumstances of the case," Lyons said.
"The NCAA doesn't want to put the kid between a rock and a hard place. If there was misapplication, the NCAA could give him the benefit of the doubt. That's why the waiver process is there."
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