HOOVER, Ala. – The University of Georgia received a phone call from the NCAA late Wednesday afternoon requesting permission to conduct an on-campus inquiry.
Georgia athletic association officials indicated that full cooperation will be provided but did not elaborate.
“The NCAA has requested that UGA officials, coaches and/or student-athletes decline further comment until the inquiry is completed,” sports information director Claude Felton said.
NCAA inquiries into whether college football players have received improper benefits from agents already are under way at Alabama, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina. Former Florida center Maurkice Pouncey denied allegations on Wednesday that he took $100,000 from an agent between last season’s SEC championship game and the Sugar Bowl.
Most of the dealings in question, however, stem from a party in Miami Beach over Memorial Day weekend that allegedly was attended by dozens of college players and may have been thrown by an agent.
Sources close to Georgia’s athletic department told the Times Free Press that Bulldogs junior receiver A.J. Green could be questioned about the party and that Green already has told head coach Mark Richt and offensive coordinator Mike Bobo that he never has been to Miami. Green has been projected among the top 10 overall selections in next year’s NFL draft, should he elect to leave early.
Former Georgia receiver Michael Moore posted on Twitter that he found the talk about Green “hilarious,” adding, “That country boy has never been to Miami. You can put those rumors to rest.”
Richt is sure to be asked about Green this morning when Georgia takes center stage at SEC media days.