CB Wilson, 7 freshmen still waiting academic approval

Posted Aug 19, 2008 by Brett McMurphy

Updated Aug 19, 2008 at 10:52 AM

Despite returning to practice Tuesday, University of South Florida junior CB Theo Wilson still has not been cleared academically to play this season, Coach Jim Leavitt said.

Also, a number of freshmen were held out of Tuesday’s practice because they have not received approval from the NCAA Clearinghouse, Leavitt said.

Leavitt did not specify which players had not received NCAA Clearinghouse approval, but CB John Lejiste, LB Quavon Taylor, OL Danous Estenor, CB George Baker, TE Andreas Shields, LB LaDre Watkins and LB Chase Geaney did not practice.

“Why haven’t we done a better job with all that?” said Leavitt, about the players not being cleared. “We probably [with] some things maybe should have done a little bit better than they have been.

“Is it frustrating? Yes. I know all our people are working hard at it. Maybe a high school doesn’t send in [the necessary paperwork], most of it is just final transcripts not getting in from a high school. Every year we have a couple, two or three. Some of that stuff is outside of our control. Some of it is not outside our control.”

Leavitt, who said Monday Wilson would not be allowed to practice until he had been cleared academically, changed his stance Tuesday and allowed Wilson to practice. Leavitt said he believes Wilson eventually will receive academic approval.

“He needs to practice,” Leavitt said. “I go back and forth with him.”

Leavitt also said freshmen OL Jeremiah Warren and DL Cory Grissom and sophomore LB Lucas Darr, all who are recovering from high ankle sprains, “may miss the first two or three games.”

Freshman Kenneth Luberice has been moved from linebacker to defensive end, Leavitt said.

CHERRY FINISHES FOURTH: Former USF hurdler Damu Cherry finished fourth in Tuesday’s 100-meter hurdle finals at the 2008 Olympics.

Cherry finished in 12.65 seconds, one-one hundredth of a second from second place. The race will be rebroadcast tonight on WFLA, Ch. 8 to see how excruciatingly close Cherry came to winning a medal.

She’s also expected to update her blog on TBO later today.