Texas players cleared by NCAA following allegations of accepting meal from agent
In what has been a rough week for the program, Texas finally received some positive news Friday afternoon.
The school announced that two football players, who were not named, have been cleared by the NCAA in regards to allegations that they may have accepted meals that were paid for by an agent.
The statement from Texas, in full, reads:
Earlier this summer, Texas reported a situation to the NCAA involving two Longhorn student-athletes receiving a meal from an agent. That situation has been resolved with NCAA staff and the involved student-athletes are immediately eligible for competition.
Both the Austin American-Statesman and Orangebloods.com reported last week that St. Louis-based agent Justin Bingman tweeted multiple times about having dinner with several Texas players, including linebackers Jordan Hicks and Steve Edmond, in March.
Orangebloods.com’s Taylor Gaspar is reporting that Hicks and Edmond were the two players who were cleared by the NCAA.
Texas release: Steve Edmond & Jordan Hicks have been cleared by the NCAA after receiving a meal from an agent. Both are immediately eligible
— Taylor Gaspar (@Taylor_Gaspar) July 25, 2014
Other tweets from Bingman (which were later deleted) mentioned meals with defensive end Cedric Reed and defensive tackle Desmond Jackson. Reed, a first-team All-Big 12 selection last season, appeared at Big 12 Media Days and told reporters that he’s been “cleared” to play in the Longhorns’ opener against North Texas.
It is not immediately known if Jackson faces any eligibility concerns.
Texas head coach Charlie Strong has reportedly dismissed four players from the program over the past few days. Additionally, two other players were indefinitely suspended after being charged with sexual assault.
For more Texas news, visit Orangebloods.com.
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Sam Cooper is a contributor for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him or follow him on Twitter!
