As reports earlier in the day suggested, ESPN is now confirming the University of Miami has officially declared 13 football players ineligible. Yahoo! Sports had reported earlier in the night that only 8 players faced ineligibility.
That doesn't mean the 13 players in question won't play in the season opener against Maryland, but it will force the NCAA to investigate and decide whether the players can be reinstated.
The 13 players are not named in the ESPN report. Only 12 were named in the Yahoo! Sports story that blew the lid on possible Nevin Shapiro-linked violations occurring at the program over the past decade. Those players were: Sean Spence, Ray-Ray Armstrong, Marcus Forston, Jacory Harris, Travis Benjamin, Adewale Ojomo, Vaughn Telemaque, JoJo Nicolas,Marcus Robinson, Aldarius Johnson, Olivier Vernon and Dyron Dye.
Several sources are reporting that Jacory Harris and Sean Spence among the players who have been declared ineligible (on the upside: congrats Stephen Morris).
ESPN explains the process like this:
Under NCAA rules, when a school finds violations have occurred, the athlete typically is declared ineligible and the NCAA begins a reinstatement process. The NCAA will also decide if that player needs to miss any games. And the clock is running. Miami opens the season at Maryland on September 5.If Miami didn't take this step, and it was found at a later date that players had violated NCAA rules, the NCAA could force the Hurricanes to vacate any wins accumulated with the players on the field.
It's unclear how long the process could take. It could be several games before certain players return, if at all.
Update: The Miami Herald explains why they're reporting only 8 players have been declared ineligible, while ESPN is reporting 13:
Another five football players were not declared ineligible by the university because it is believed the impermissible benefits each allegedly received from former UM booster Nevin Shapiro totaled less than $100 -- meaning they can pay it back, usually by donating to a charity. However, UM could impose additional penalties, including suspensions.Follow Miami New Times on Facebook and Twitter @MiamiNewTimes.
