Freshman wide receiver Damiere Byrd's South Carolina debut is now in doubt.
USC coach Steve Spurrier said on his weekly radio show Thursday night that Byrd, who sat out the first four games of the season after being ruled ineligible by the NCAA, still has hurdles to clear before he can suit up and play.
Spurrier said he and his staff received new information Thursday and he could not go into further detail other than that it is related to the NCAA.
Spurrier said he is hopeful Byrd will be cleared.
The NCAA ruled that Byrd received about $2,700 in impermissible benefits through his involvement with the Delaware-based Student Athlete Mentoring (SAM) Foundation. SAM is the same group named in the letter of allegations USC received from the NCAA last week. The NCAA alleges the foundation provided approximately $8,000 in impermissible benefits and recruiting inducements to both USC student-athletes and prospective student-athletes.
USC expected Byrd, a Sicklerville, N.J., native, to be cleared to play in Saturday's game against Auburn, as the NCAA ruling stated he would only be held out of four games.
Byrd spoke to the media Wednesday, commenting publicly for the first time since being ruled ineligible. In the session, Byrd told reporters he was ready to play and wished to put the suspension behind him.
Spurrier said earlier in the week Byrd would see time as a receiver. Additionally, special teams coordinator John Butler suggested Byrd could play a role on special teams. Byrd said Wednesday if he did play on special teams, it would be on USC's return teams.
