Atkins latest denied by academic committee

Posted Aug 7, 2009 by Brett McMurphy

Updated Aug 7, 2009 at 05:37 PM

University of South Florida recruit Gerard Atkins is the latest to be denied admission into the school by USF’s academic committee.

Atkins said he met NCAA qualifying standards, but was told he was denied admission into USF. He is at least the third USF football recruit this year that met NCAA qualifying standards, but was denied by the school’s academic committee. Atkins said his mother was notified Monday by a USF academic advisor that he wasn’t admitted into USF.

“I don’t know how it happened,” said Atkins, a tight end from Dixie Hollins High School. “I did everything USF asked me to do. The committee said my grades were on a downward trend, but they improved my last semester. I don’t understand the process.”

Atkins said he had a 3.5 GPA in his final semester at Dixie and finished with an overall 2.5 GPA. He also said he scored a 910 on the SAT.

Because he was denied admission from USF, he is released from his letter-of-intent and eligible to sign with any other school.

Louisville and “other schools” have contacted Atkins’ high school coach, Mike Morey, Atkins said. He also said USF officials told him he could attend a community college this fall and then try again to get approval from USF’s committee. If approved by the committee, he could enroll at USF in January.

Atkins said he hopes to have a decision where he’ll attend college by the end of next week. Last month he said attending Georgia Military College was an option, but he said today “that’s no longer a possibility.”

Atkins said he still wants to attend USF, but is unsure if he wants to delay his enrollment until January, if approved.

Of the 29 recruits USF signed in February, seven did not qualify. Besides Atkins, Kamran Joyer and Khyri Thornton also met NCAA qualifying standards, but were denied by USF’s academic committee.