UPDATED: Georgia LB Jarvis Jones cleared to play by NCAA
ATHENS – Georgia not only got good news from the NCAA regarding the eligibility of Jarvis Jones, it got it fast.
Jones, a sophomore linebacker from Columbus, was determined to have not violated any NCAA rules and therefore will be eligible to play every game for the Bulldogs this season, UGA confirmed on Tuesday. Georgia received the news from the NCAA on Monday night, exactly one week after filing the report on its internal investigation with the SEC.
“I think the NCAA is making a concerted effort to turn things around as quickly as possible,” Georgia athletic director Greg McGarity told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “We’ve been hearing in these various meetings they were going to try to do a better job of that. So we’re just thankful NCAA was able to do that in this case. Whether the decision was up or down, we’re able to move forward now. At the end of the day that’s all schools want.”
Last year the Bulldogs had to wait until the second week of the regular season to learn from the NCAA that wide receiver A.J. Green would have to sit out four games for violating NCAA rules. UGA held Green out of the first game on its own.
“I appreciate the work of our compliance office for its time and effort in providing a thorough, comprehensive report and I’m thankful for the timely manner in which the NCAA reviewed and evaluated all the facts to reach a decision,” Georgia coach Mark Richt said in the statement. “We’re ready to move on with preparations for our season opener.”
Richt was not made available to reporters on Tuesday.
The NCAA’s decision is significant for Georgia as it prepares to open the season against a pair of highly-ranked opponents. The Bulldogs open against No. 7 Boise State on Sept. 3 in the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game in the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, and follow that with a home tilt against No. 12 South Carolina in Athens.
Jones, a sophomore linebacker from Columbus, is slated to start at strongside linebacker for Georgia. He was having his eligibility reviewed after a police investigation into alleged corruption within the Columbus parks and recreation department revealed an administrator had provided benefits to him and basketball signee Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in the summer of 2009.
Jones’ relationship with that administrator, Tony Adams, was the center of UGA’s investigation. Adams reportedly paid for four flights for Jones to and from Los Angeles in the summer of 2009 as well as some other benefits. At the time Jones was a freshman signee at Southern Cal.
In its investigation, Georgia was able establish that Jones’ legal guardian, Shelley Stephens — who also worked for the rec department and flew with him to LA — had been in a long-term relationship with Adams.
“Based on the information that we reviewed, it was interpreted that it met the four-pronged test of an established relationship,” UGA compliance director Eric Baumgartner said.
The main criteria for meeting the stipulations of NCAA Bylaw 12.1.2.1.6 (preferential treatment, benefits and services) is that a relationship was established before a prospects ninth-grade year.
McGarity said Georgia has not yet completed its investigation of Caldwell-Pope. The five-star shooting guard from Greenville allegedly was using a cell phone that was paid for by Adams.
“We’re still processing that case,” McGarity said. “Jarvis’ situation was a little more urgent.”
Jones transferred to Georgia from USC — where he played in eight games as a true freshman — last summer and sat out per NCAA transfer rules. He’s a former AJC Super 11 player who was rated among the top linebackers in the nation.
Jones has not been available for comment but Tuesday night he addressed the news on his Facebook page. (Edited) “The right support, great mentors, friends/fans. I’m so grateful for everyone that’s in my corner. I put my trust in a higher power and not in man. No stressing, just hard work and dedication. Stand up Bulldog Nation, we have business to tend to. — #29″
Georgia launched an internal investigation earlier this summer and turned over its findings to the SEC office on Aug. 2. UGA declined the AJC’s open records requests under the Freedom of Information Act to view that report under the claim that the document was protected by a federal law protecting the privacy of students. The AJC disputed that claim.
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305 comments Add your comment
Dawgs Feast
August 9th, 2011
10:56 am
Is Jones a projected starter ? How about some info. on that ?
Nate the Great
August 9th, 2011
10:57 am
@RxDawg: Dont forget about Troy!! They will challenge UAB for the states top program!! Alabama State also gets a lot of really good recruits:)
JB
August 9th, 2011
10:57 am
Signing autographs in a clothing store………and “rumored” to get free clothing for doing it. We’ll see.
honest_abe
August 9th, 2011
10:57 am
yesssssssssir. the optimism continues!
ryan
August 9th, 2011
10:57 am
Great news this the kind of momentum we need bring on Boise St . GO DAWGS !
U
August 9th, 2011
10:57 am
The Dawgies got lucky this time. Congrats.
Concrete Pete
August 9th, 2011
10:57 am
Sounds about right, Scam got 200k and missed no games. Bama had NUMEROUS players involved in a memorabilia scandal MUCH worse than what brought down Tressel and OSU, yet it appears no sanctions will result. Certainly a plane ticket and laptop purchased by someone the kid had known all his life shouldn’t warrant any punishment.
Bigdsel
August 9th, 2011
10:58 am
This Georgia D is gonna be for real
Nate the Great
August 9th, 2011
10:59 am
@Dawg Feast: JJ is our best lb (on paper).
Bigdsel
August 9th, 2011
10:59 am
Yes he is is awsome
tim p
August 9th, 2011
11:00 am
I admire your optimism. After a horrible 2010 with your savior AJ, everyone on here thinks 2011 is going to be fantastic. Its really admirable. Not exactly realistic, but optimistic.
Nikoli Volkov
August 9th, 2011
11:02 am
Jones would not survive the russian sickle. none of you Georgia trash could. especially the garbage down in columbus georgia.
Report: SEC, NCAA clears UGA’s Jarvis Jones | CollegeFootballTalk
August 9th, 2011
11:02 am
[...] Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting Tuesday morning that Jones has been cleared by both the SEC and the NCAA, meaning he will be eligible to play during the upcoming season. The [...]
Patrick
August 9th, 2011
11:03 am
Look to 2010 all you want folks, but the 2011 Dawgs will be much different on both paper and on the field.
CMS
August 9th, 2011
11:04 am
@UGA Insider I remember you commenting in the past that USC was gonna beat us….What gives now?
Bull
August 9th, 2011
11:04 am
Good for UGA for denying AJC the FOIA request. They make such news as a kid peeing in the woods. Bama and Auburn doesnt release any requests by the media
Ahilq
August 9th, 2011
11:04 am
Funny. If this ruling was about Auburn, the Dawgies would be screaming foul from the rooftops!!!!
Joey
August 9th, 2011
11:05 am
Thanks, tim p for admiring us Dawg fans’ optimism.
Joey
August 9th, 2011
11:07 am
Here come the nerds . . .
NC Dawg
August 9th, 2011
11:07 am
nice. Finally a good decision by the aholes at the ncaa.
trupert
August 9th, 2011
11:09 am
UGA insider, it’s been reported by only a few sources, It was reported on college football fix and it was also in USA today.
Alabama’s doing everything they can to make the story go away but it dosn’t look good for the Tide. They have a big decision to make on weather they should play alot of players and Trent Richardson is one of them. This could easily play out like the AJ Green situation at Ga last year but with multiple players. Here’s a link for the story.
http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/not-again-current-bama-qb-linked-to-suit-store-29806
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 9th, 2011
11:10 am
Jarvis Jones hasn’t played a real game in quite some time.
If he makes an impact, it will take a few games.
He might be in stride by week 5 or 6.
McDawg
August 9th, 2011
11:10 am
great great news-just wish we would hear form Turene
South GA Dawg
August 9th, 2011
11:11 am
It is a very sad day in Boise.
Concrete Pete
August 9th, 2011
11:14 am
Nothing Could be Finer: Jones will be in full stride by week 2, much to you and Guzzlin’ Garcia’s chagrin
Destin Dawg
August 9th, 2011
11:14 am
Grantham’s Junkyard Dawg Defense.. will be awesome.. Richt help Bo Bo call the plays… Go Dawgs !!!
Born2Bark
August 9th, 2011
11:16 am
This is GREAT news! Jarvis Jones and Tree will be killers at LB. Grantham has described him as a more complete player than Justin Houston. I get a semi when I hear that… Put simply by someone earlier, he started as a true freshman at USC in a very competitive year. GO DAWGS!!!!!!!!!! This Defense has all the elements
GT GRAD
August 9th, 2011
11:17 am
Good news for Jarvis Jones and UGA; I sincerely hope he did nothing wrong in this instance (If the investigation says he can play, we must all assume he did not break any rules).
I really look forward to watching some college football this season (including UGA & especially GT)!
UGA Insider
August 9th, 2011
11:18 am
CMS,
I will tell you what changed my mind….. I went to practice and saw a future Heisman Trophy running back totting the rock. If I am Bobo I give him the ball 25-30 times a game regardless of what is going on cause he can break a long one at any time. This guy is Marcus Lattimore with more speed.
beanster
August 9th, 2011
11:18 am
I am slowly beginning to feel better about Boise, much better than I fell about USC. Dawgs’ D is looking very tough and K Moore has newbie receivers to break in. A loud crowd combined with pressure from all angles….he may not throw many picks but I am anxious see how he holds onto the ball when Jarvis or Otree or Robinson catch him on the blitz….
hop
August 9th, 2011
11:18 am
this is HUGE news for the dawgnation and it provides more depth for our linebacker corp.
Jones was the #1 player in the state of georgia a few years back and with his speed and overall
strength will be a strong addition to an already talented defense team!
Ricky Bobby
August 9th, 2011
11:18 am
Thank you Baby Jesus!
moleman
August 9th, 2011
11:19 am
easy, junk lickers. Jones did nothing at USC. now he’s the re-birth of Lawrence Taylor. and you wonder why the rest of the nation has no respect for your pathetic, mid-tier program. the root cause analysis leads right to “idiot fan base”
Chuck
August 9th, 2011
11:21 am
Wow – we are entering an age when bending over for the NCAA pays immediate dividends – advantage UGA
chilidawg
August 9th, 2011
11:21 am
sweet!
Nomobama
August 9th, 2011
11:22 am
Something stinks to hi heaven! Dude gets free trips to la la land to rub elbows with the wacky cali libs and he gets cleared? Sounds like uga took a class from saban on how to cheat without getting busted by the ncaa…
minor
August 9th, 2011
11:22 am
what is up with your female gymnastics coach calling an UNDERAGE recruit and wishing her a happy VAlENTINES DAY? Creepy and inappropriate and do the authorities know?
South GA Dawg
August 9th, 2011
11:23 am
GT GRAD ,
You are a class act. i truly wish GT good luck this year and look forward to giving them their first and hopefully only loss of the year.
Nothing Could Be Finer
August 9th, 2011
11:25 am
Jones will be in full stride by week 2
——————————————————
He’ll be good. Thats too soon, though.
flo-ri-duh
August 9th, 2011
11:26 am
Finally – a common sense decision from the NCAA…. is that an oxymoron?
UGA LB Jarvis Jones cleared to play by NCAA & SEC
August 9th, 2011
11:27 am
[...] Bulldogs linebacker Jarvis Jones has been cleared to play in 2011 by the NCAA and the SEC, the AJC is [...]
Top Row Dog
August 9th, 2011
11:27 am
AJC super 11 High School players have a good track record of NCAA and NFL success. Better get a doctor to look at that mole man, it could be cancer.
moleman
August 9th, 2011
11:28 am
how do you know he’ll be good? nothing to suggest that in his collegiate career so far.
DawgLifer
August 9th, 2011
11:28 am
Im stoked! I have not heard this much good news out of Athens in 3 or 4 years. I hope we keep it up, I’m behind the Dawgs all the way. We have fallen and now its our time to return back to national prominence. Go Dawgs!
Moleman's Mother
August 9th, 2011
11:29 am
Rufus come upstairs for lunch, we have your dentist appointment at 1pm. Be sure and turn the light off on your way upstairs, and wash your hands.
Vampire Bill
August 9th, 2011
11:31 am
GREAT NEWS.. Hope his neck is ok.. remember he has some issues.. Let’s hope he’s ready to play and play well. Best of luck Jarvis
DC
August 9th, 2011
11:31 am
oh how fickle the mind is…
grasseater
August 9th, 2011
11:33 am
@ MCdawg..you can look for Turene at MCDonalds; he won’t get into uga.
CHDawg
August 9th, 2011
11:34 am
Looked at the roster and JJ is up to 241; Ogeltree to 236. The mikes are about 220, and Washington is huge. All are very fast for LBs. Even the 2s are very fast. The 3-4 really shines with fast LBs. It is tough to pick them up and at least one is rushing on most pass plays. I would not want to play QB against this D. You want Ogeltree or Jones coming after you? As fast as some RBs and 240 pounds of muscle…nightmares are made of such. Moore is a great QB, but at 6 ft and 190 pounds and 4 tenths of a second slower in the 40 than these LBs, he better hope his line is as good as advertised.
Troll Power Ratings
August 9th, 2011
11:34 am
@moleman: Worried? Much, much more to come for you to worry about. Thanks for caring, troll.