FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. - Arkansas said Monday that it signed two-sport threat Michael Grant, who was denied admission at Georgia because he once was expelled from a high school.
The 6-foot, 185-pound cornerback and sprinter from Atlanta received national honors in track and field and football in high school and university officials said he is interested in competing in both as a Razorback.
Georgia's faculty admissions committee rejected Grant because he was expelled from South Gwinnett High in the 10th grade before enrolling at Stephenson High his junior year. Ronnie Gartrell, Grant's football coach at Stephenson, said the player was expelled for an incident involving a female student.
Georgia released Grant from his scholarship after he was denied admission, and any eligibility questions related to his decision to attend Arkansas on scholarship have been cleared by SEC officials.
Grant chose Georgia over Florida, Tennessee and Florida State.
He did not visit Arkansas during the regular recruiting period.
SOUTH FLORIDA: Junior defensive end Terrence Royal, who was scheduled to appear in court on a misdemeanor trespass charge, had his arraignment postponed until July 26. Royal, 22, was banned from campus housing at USF after a stolen computer was found in the room he shared with former USF player Shelly Houston, and both were cited for trespassing on campus in March. Royal, a Wharton graduate, is listed as USF's starting right end entering fall drills. He has 70 tackles, including 23 for loss, in two seasons.
BILLY D VISIT: The Pinellas County Gator Club will host an evening with Florida basketball coach Billy Donovan today at the Feather Sound Country Club, 2201 Feather Sound Drive in Clearwater. The event begins at 5:30 p.m., and Donovan will sign autographs from 6-7. Admission is $25 for UF Alumni Association and Gator Booster members, $30 for nonmembers and $5 for children 12 and under. Call the club hotline at (727) 741-5486 for more information.
N.C. STATE: Basketball coach Herb Sendek would not discuss rumors linking his name to the vacant Ohio State job. Sendek has been rumored to be a possible candidate to replace Jim O'Brien, who was fired this month. Athletic director Lee Fowler said Ohio State had not contacted him for permission to speak with Sendek.
Times staff writer Greg Auman contributed to this report.
