A little less than two weeks after reports surfaced that he was transferring from USC, Jarvis Jones will find a new collegiate football home close to where he called home before heading out to the West Coast, the Athens Banner-Herald is reporting.
According to the paper, the Columbus, Ga., native was cleared by Georgia’s medical staff during a visit Tuesday and will transfer to the school.
USC’s medical staff had not cleared the linebacker following a neck injury suffered during the 2009 season, one that new head coach Lane Kiffin termed as potentially career-threatening earlier this offseason. UGA’s doctors apparently disagreed with USC’s prognosis, and Jones will seek a waiver that would allow him to play in 2010 instead of being forced to sit out the season in order to satisfy the NCAA’s transfer rule.
“He didn’t willingly leave Southern Cal,” Jones’ high school coach Dell McGee told the paper. “It was considered medical in nature. They didn’t clear him to play. I’m under the assumption that he’s going to be able to play. Georgia is probably going to ask for an appeal to play.”
Jones was heavily recruited by Georgia before he ultimately became a part of the Trojans’ 2009 recruiting class.