Back in February, shortly before Jadeveon Clowney‘s delayed announcement that he was signing with South Carolina, it was reported that questions were being raised as to whether the nation’s top recruit in 2011 would qualify academically.
Based on one report, that’s no longer an issue. Based on another, however, the academic issue has yet to be completely decided.
In a tweet sent late Tuesday night, Tony Morrell, recruiting analyst for TheBigSpur.com, reported that “Clowney is now qualified by NCAA standards” and that "[h]e should be admitted to USC in June and start classes in July.”
That would certainly qualify as good news for those sweating Clowney’s status, except for the fact that Rivals.com‘s USC site has tossed, at least temporarily, a (very) little bit of cold water on anything being officially finalized on the academic front.
GamecockCentral recruiting analyst Chris Clark reported Wednesday morning that "[w]hile Clowney’s academics meet the criteria to qualify under NCAA standards, he still has not been certified by the NCAA Clearinghouse.” Clark, however, goes on to write that navigating the Clearinghouse and USC admission hurdles should not be an issue for the defensive end.
“Not that it’s a problem, I’m told it’s simply too early in the process for that to happen,” Clark wrote. “His Clearinghouse certification and admission to USC are essentially the two remaining steps in his path to USC, and both of those are expected to be fine according to what I hear.”
In other words, all of this academic stuff should be cleared up in time for Clowney, expected to contribute immediately as a true freshman, to participate fully in summer camp in two months.