All-America receiver Mike Williams, caught in limbo after the back-and-forth court rulings over his eligibility to enter the NFL early, is pursuing a return to Southern California.
"The paperwork that needed to be started has been started," the former Plant High star told a Los Angeles sports-talk radio station Wednesday afternoon. "By no way is this a slam dunk as far as being reinstated by the NCAA."
His issues are twofold: He missed the second semester of school, and after signing with Tampa-based agent Mike Azzarelli, he automatically forfeited his amateur status.
Williams said he left school in good academic standing and is seeking a progress-toward-degree waiver, which would allow him to resume his standing after missing the semester. He also has severed ties with Azzarelli and will submit a full report to USC in the coming days.
An institution must seek reinstatement for a student-athlete from the NCAA. USC hasn't yet done that. Once it does, the NCAA staff will evaluate the case and decide if Williams should be reinstated and if he must meet any conditions, such as restitution for any benefits from an agent.
"Hopefully, they're going to see he was in a situation, he followed the law to the letter, and now has done the same to be reinstated," USC coach Peter Carroll said on the same radio show. "Hopefully, he'll have an opportunity to continue his education."
Williams, 20, said he received a "raw deal" and that it's "disappointing" his dream of playing in the NFL this year won't be realized. But he said he doesn't regret his decision to take advantage of an initial ruling that allowed former Ohio State star Maurice Clarett or anyone to enter the NFL early.
"It just didn't work out and now you have to find out what's in your best interest," Williams said. "There's not a football player on any level hungrier than I am to play ball, including Clarett or anyone else. I'm going with this full force and if it doesn't work out, we'll pursue other angles."
If Williams returns for his junior season, the talent-rich Trojans would get richer. He had 95 catches for 1,314 yards and a school-record 16 touchdowns, helping USC to a share of the national title and finishing sixth in the Heisman Trophy balloting.
MORE FOOTBALL: Virginia players Marques Hagans and Brandon Lee have been acquitted of misdemeanor disorderly conduct charges stemming from an April 28 campus shooting. They were arrested after former Virginia defensive back Jamaine Winborne was shot in the leg. Upset that Winborne had been shot, Hagans and Lee refused to leave the crime scene, authorities said.
BASKETBALL: Duke freshman Luol Deng, who announced he would make himself eligible for the NBA draft, does not intend to return to school and is in the process of hiring an agent, a school spokesman said.
Deng, who led the Blue Devils to the Final Four, said in April he would enter the draft but not hire an agent. That would have kept open the option of returning for his sophomore season. He has until June 17 to remove his name from consideration and retain his college eligibility.
GOLF: California held on to its one-stroke lead, shooting 9-over 289 on a difficult scoring day at the NCAA men's championships in Hot Springs, Va. Only Pepperdine finished below par in the second round (4-under 276), moving into a tie for fourth place with Washington.
The Golden Bears' two-round score of 8-over 568 puts them one stroke ahead of Kentucky and two ahead of Brigham Young. Florida is tied for 10th but just six shots back.
In the individual competition, Arizona's Chris Nallen shot 67 to move into a tie for first at 4-under 136 with Kentucky's Matt Wells and California's Jeff Hood. Freshman Jessie Mudd is the leading Gator in 23rd place at 2-over 142.
The third round today is cut day. The top 15 teams will compete in the final round Friday.
