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Top WR recruit now eligible to enroll at UNC

Dwight Jones, a top prospect from Burlington, is currently enrolled at Valdosta State in Georgia.

Posted Updated

By
Sammy Batten
, Fayetteville Observer

Burlington’s Dwight Jones must be feeling like a major league hitter who’s down in the count with the amount of curveballs that have been thrown his way recently.

Jones, a wide receiver who was No. 1 in The Fayetteville Observer’s 2006 pre-season list of the state’s Top 50 prospects, has learned he is now academically eligible to attend the University of North Carolina.

Due to a misinterpretation of the NCAA’s new rules, it was believed Jones hadn’t met entrance requirements to play at the Football Bowl Subdivision level.

Consequently, the 6-foot-3, 215-pounder decided to enroll at Division II Valdosta State, where he’s currently practicing with the football squad.

But according to Jay Perdue, an assistant coach at the player’s alma mater, Cummings High School, Jones’ transcripts were judged using the 2008 standards requiring 16 core courses. But because Jones actually graduated from high school in 2007, he should have been evaluated under the 14-course standard.

“That NCAA stuff is really complex,’’ Perdue said Tuesday. “I think there’s a rule for a rule for a rule. From my understanding, when they read the rule it can be interpreted in different ways. There was some gray area there.

“I tell you, I’ve never seen anything like this situation. This is a first for me.’’

The situation, first reported by Don Callahan of InsideCarolina.com, has left Jones with a difficult decision.

Does he depart Valdosta State and enroll at the school he’s dreamed of playing for most of his life? Or does he stick with the school that gave him a chance when he had few options?

Valdosta State athletics director Herb Reinhard said Tuesday afternoon in a statement that he had given UNC permission to speak with Jones. But Jones was still on campus Tuesday and participated in his fourth practice with the Valdosta State team.

“We have discussed the situation with Dwight and have given North Carolina permission to speak with him,’’ Reinhard said. “However, at this time he is enrolled at Valdosta State and is practicing with our football team. We plan on continuing under these pretenses.’’

Jones did not sign a national letter-of-intent with Valdosta State because the signing period was over. But he did sign an “institutional financial help agreement’’ that guaranteed his scholarship.

Perdue expects Jones to reach a decision within the next few days but admits it won’t be an easy one to make.

“He’s just confused,’’ Perdue said. “Carolina is his dream school, and it’s where he wanted to go from the start. Plus, it’s Division I and Valdosta State is Division II.

“But you look at the situation at Valdosta State. He really likes the coaches there and the program. He’s found a home there.

“So he’s going through a range of emotions right now. I didn’t talk to him yesterday because he was at practice. I don’t really know what he’s thinking today. But when I spoke to him last, he was just sort of in shock. He was happy on one hand, and frustrated on the other. There’s a whole lot going through his mind right now.’’

Coincidentally, UNC coach Butch Davis mentioned last Friday during the school’s media day that there were question marks at wide receiver beyond the top three of Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Tate and Brooks Foster.

Could Dwight Jones be the answer?

Stay tuned.

Tar Heels snare safety

UNC added a 13th player to its recruiting Class of 2009 late last week when 6-3, 205-pound safety Curtis Campbell from Chesapeake, Va., gave the Tar Heels an oral commitment.

Campbell attends Grassfield High, which just opened last year. He played safety and running back last season, but sat out four games with an injury.

Campbell’s raw speed — he’s a nationally ranked track performer in the 200- and 400-meter dashes — and aggressive style appealed to UNC.

“He’s a 6-2, 6-3 guy who ran a 4.4 40 on our gym floor,’’ Grassfield coach Martin Asprey said. “I think that really turned people’s heads.

“But he’s not just fast. He does a great job from the free safety position filling the alley. He likes coming up and hitting people.’’

Campbell chose UNC over an offer from Connecticut.

In-state back picks ECU

Scotty Wayne, a 5-11, 200-pound running back from Southern Guilford High in Greensboro, has become the 11th member of ECU’s recruiting class.

Wayne is a two-way star with the Storm. He rushed for more than 1,000 yards as a junior and collected 75 tackles as a secondary player on defense.

The Pirates received Wayne’s commitment over offers from Elon and Liberty among others.

“He’s an exceptional athlete,’’ Southern Guilford coach Darryl Brown said. “He does so many things for our offense. He catches the football well, he’s a good blocker, and he can obviously run. He’s the kind of guy you can move around and do a lot of things with him.’’

Fayetteville Observer reporter Sammy Batten can be reached at battens@fayobserver.com or (910) 486-3534.

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