The L.A. Times reported today that USC may have violated NCAA rules in the school’s process of recruiting running back and Louisiana native, Joe McKnight.
McKnight, the John Curtis Christian High School graduate who is widely regarded as the nation’s top high school football prospect, signed a letter of intent Wednesday to play football for the Trojans this fall.
The violation allegedly occurred when McKnight took part in a conference call with USC coach Pete Carroll and former Trojans’ star and Heisman Trophy winner Reggie Bush.
McKnight mentioned the alleged conversation at his news conference Wednesday announcing his college decision. The conversation reportedly took place to ease McKnight’s tensions of going to USC while the school is being investigation for possible NCAA violations that occurred while Bush attended the school.
Carroll told the L.A. Times that such a conversation never took place.
“It never happened,” Carroll said.
According to NCAA rules, former players such as Bush are considered “representatives of athletics interests.”
NCAA bylaw 13.1.3.5.1 says, “Representatives of an institution’s athletics interests are prohibited from making telephonic communications with a prospective student-athlete or the prospective student-athlete’s relatives or legal guardians.”
USC is still investigating whether Bush and his family received improper benefits during his three-year tenure as a Trojan. If the NCAA discovers that violations occurred USC could be punished, and there is a strong possibility that Bush could lose the Heisman Trophy he won in 2005.
McKnight’s high school coach, J.T. Curtis, told the L.A. Times McKnight misspoke during his Wednesday news conference and might have been overwhelmed by the amount of attention he attracted.
“He said when they came in his house, the discussion was brought up about probation, and that’s when the conversation came up that they had talked to Reggie, but Joe was not there,” Curtis said.
In 14 games this past season, McKnight had 45 carries for 709 yards and 14 touchdowns. He also added 24 receptions for 735 yards and 13 touchdowns and returned three punts for scores this past season.