CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (AP) - The NCAA has reversed its ruling that North Carolina’s Devon Ramsay is permanently ineligible and has cleared the fullback to return next season.
In a release, the school said Thursday night that the NCAA has determined Ramsay committed no violation of NCAA rules after receiving new information from the school.
The school hadn’t specified a reason for the original ruling, though privacy laws would’ve prevented it from discussing any player’s involvement in the NCAA’s investigation of academic misconduct. The NCAA also investigated agent-related benefits.
Former North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Robert Orr had been advising the Ramsay family and said in December that the focus of Ramsay’s case was a three-page paper written two years ago and “minor revisions” suggested by tutor Jennifer Wiley through e-mail. Orr had said Ramsay didn’t remember whether he included some or any of the changes.
Ramsay played the first four games before he was held out by the school during the investigation. The NCAA ruled he was ineligible in November, though the school said it would appeal.
Ramsay will have one season of eligibility left.
In a statement, athletic director Dick Baddour said school officials were “delighted” for Ramsay and that it was “the right decision.”
In all, 14 players missed at least one game due to the probe. Seven missed the entire season, while an eighth was cleared to return at midseason but decided to redshirt.
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