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
TTOUGH44
August 9th, 2011
11:35 am
Good Stay Focused, Finish Strong! Go DAWGS!
Skating on thin ice...
August 9th, 2011
11:36 am
Looks like UGA skates on yet another violation.
Now, what about The Urinator – what happens to him? Is Richt going to have him sit over a bedpan during games?
moleman
August 9th, 2011
11:40 am
@Troll power Ratings: what drew your attention to my posts? i bet the “junk lickers” reference intrigued you. Maybe you should troll thru Craigslist for that kind of action. this is a football forum.
dawggirl
August 9th, 2011
11:41 am
Fantastic news! And a rare kudos to the NCAA for getting the decision done so quickly this time, as opposed to well, all the other times.
So much for all the so-called insiders who predicted he would miss not only the first game or two, but at least half the season. Guess you’re more of an outsider.
ARdawg
August 9th, 2011
11:43 am
Sahweet! Looks like that vaunted Boise offense just took another jolt. Hello Callen Moore, welcome to Georgia
NC Dawg
August 9th, 2011
11:44 am
It’s also good that the coaches will have plenty of time to prepare, knowing that he’s going to be available for the first game. SIC “EM. WOOF! WOOF!
Patrick
August 9th, 2011
11:46 am
The neck is not an issue at this point. By all accounts, Jarvis was a one man wrecking crew on the scout team last year as he sat out his transfer year. He’s now been in the system for a year and a half and will be ready to go. Can’t wait…
1eyedJack
August 9th, 2011
11:47 am
Wait till next year...
August 9th, 2011
11:47 am
Can he join the dream team now?
AltamahaDawg
August 9th, 2011
11:49 am
AR are you sure that Boise doesn’t have a vaulted offence.
Santa Cruz Bulldog
August 9th, 2011
11:50 am
That is GREAT news!
The Defense is going to be excellent.
WDE
August 9th, 2011
11:50 am
nobama…not sure how you go UGA was cheating in this case….Jones at the time of the trips was a player in good standing at USC….don’t let the facts bother you….trolls never do.
Georgia’s Jarvis Jones Cleared To Play | Saturday Down South
August 9th, 2011
11:52 am
[...] received very good news on linebacker Jarvis Jones today. The AJC first reported that Jones would be cleared to play this [...]
47–40–2
August 9th, 2011
11:52 am
<—- We will see you in Jacksonville. Maybe in Ten more years the series will be close to even lol. It took the last 20 just for Florida to get close…
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 9th, 2011
11:53 am
This may be the most athleticlly gifted set of LB’s the program has seen collectively. Now the question is can they play football. We have had out share of John Allens, Tony Gilberts who may not have been superior athletes but new how to read Keys and play the position. I don’t need a LB with a 4.3,I need a LB who is instictive also. Lets hope this group plays instinctively and fast.
boots
August 9th, 2011
11:54 am
Well, this did not make the AJC headline, but it is AWESOME news. If JJ had not been cleared, or maybe even gotten a parking ticket, the AJC would have had banner headlines. Whatever. Glad to know this monster LB will be playing for the Dawgs in the Dome. Can’t wait!
Georgia | MrSEC.com
August 9th, 2011
11:54 am
[...] Jarvis Jones — recently tied to an AAU scandal from his high school days — has been cleared by the SEC and the NCAA to play for Georgia this fall. At least that’s the take of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.If, as expected, a press [...]
moleman
August 9th, 2011
11:55 am
10 more years Florida wii be up by 3.
WDE
August 9th, 2011
11:57 am
NCBF…sorry Jones plays linebacker not QB or WR or any other skill/finesse position. He runs to the ball and hits people he did it all last year on the scout team and all the years he has been playing. I really don’t see him having a lot to “rust” to overcome.
'94 UGA Alumni
August 9th, 2011
11:57 am
Awesome. We really need Jarvis to play and I think he will be a true difference maker.
ToccoaDawg
August 9th, 2011
11:58 am
Skating on thin ice = Vampire Troll
ARdawg
August 9th, 2011
11:59 am
Altamaha
That too! My apologies. Multi-tasking and typing on the blog are not one of my finer qualities
JDawg1785
August 9th, 2011
11:59 am
Some of the best news I’ve heard all summer! GATA, Jarvis!!
dawg stuck in Gulf Shores
August 9th, 2011
12:01 pm
JJ was a force on the scout team last year, he will not miss a beat…he’s hungary and dangerous, will be a destroyer…all the haters on this blog are trembling while typing…be afraid my friends, be very afraid…JunkYard Dawgs are BACK!!!!
ARdawg
August 9th, 2011
12:02 pm
Jones is another extreme possibility of being the headhunter LB of Davis or Blue fame. You haterz can say what you want. The kid is good and now he is playing
T from 31005
August 9th, 2011
12:02 pm
I guess they did this to make up for the AJ Green debacle.
James T. Kirk
August 9th, 2011
12:04 pm
Nice to see the NCAACP keeps allowing the cheats from Athens to continue cheating
slydog
August 9th, 2011
12:04 pm
I think Jones was cleared because of the prior relationship factor (it was his mom’s boyfriend at the time), him signing with USC during this time, and him already having red-shirted. Why punish him further? Caldwell-Pope is a different set of circumstances entirely. None of the above factors apply to him. Otherwise, I believe he would have been exonerated also. The investigation for both players began at the same time. Or, maybe since football is 3 weeks away, the NCAA and SEC wanted to close Jones’ case first. Anyway, I think Kentavious is either going to miss games, repay the money, or both.
YOUR DADDY
August 9th, 2011
12:05 pm
Bama Bill
Wonder why to monitor UGA’s news page instead of BAMA’s. I hope we see you in the GA DOME this yr –gonna smoke those rednecks from ALA.
Tobias Funke
August 9th, 2011
12:06 pm
This is great news. Finally, the NCAA does an efficient job.
Marc
August 9th, 2011
12:06 pm
Columbus, GA is in the HOUSE! Crowell and Jones are gonna be the difference makers we need. Georgia 37 Boise 20.
BIG Joe
August 9th, 2011
12:06 pm
James T. Kirk
What the Heck is the NCAACP???
LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
moleman
August 9th, 2011
12:08 pm
i heard jones runs a 3.8 40 time, can bench press 2000 pounds, and has an iq of155. GATA!!! you people are hillarious!
slydog
August 9th, 2011
12:09 pm
Oh, and lest I forget. Things are looking up for the Dawgs if any of the reports mean anything. I have never known Chip to fluff stories. Getting Jones back puts UGA’s LB corp on par with the best in the nation. This group will be the bellcow for the team this season. They will either make or break this team. We can get all excited about the freshmen, the speed, the running game, blah blah blah. The UGA LB corp needs to keep QB’s running and heads popping from game 1 to 12
1eyedJack
August 9th, 2011
12:12 pm
Tater tots one week, fried chicken the next. Life is good.
ray goff for next coach
August 9th, 2011
12:15 pm
I never lost to Boise. Or UCFlorida.
I-DOG
August 9th, 2011
12:16 pm
Dawgman:
I had doubts. Tremendous doubts, I figured that the NCAA would either keep him our the first 2 games OR not even make a decision until then. This is huge and a lift for the entire team. The exact opposite of the AJ Deal last year.
Wait till next year...
August 9th, 2011
12:17 pm
1 players equals having an EXCELLENT defense, beating Boise St and going to the SEC Championship game– WOW! Sounds like a new year with the same delusional uga fan base!
Eagle_Chris
August 9th, 2011
12:17 pm
@Nikoli Volkov… Get your 80’s era Russian Pro Wrestlers straight… The Russian Sickle was performed by NIKITA KOLOFF…
CHDawg
August 9th, 2011
12:19 pm
Moleman, know something even funnier? You spelling hilarious wrong while talking about how low Jones’ IQ is….
bucket
August 9th, 2011
12:20 pm
Where are all the haters in the know from Columbus that assured everyone that this investigation was just the tip of the iceberg for the Carver/UGA kids? This situation seems like all the people in the know that assured us Crowell was seen buying an Alabama hat the night before NSD!
WDE
August 9th, 2011
12:22 pm
@James T. Kirk looks like someone woke up on the wrong side of PROBATION this morning…..
SEC Observer
August 9th, 2011
12:22 pm
I don’t know why Coach Peterson is bringing Boise State to Atlanta. Based on numerous bloggers here the Dawgs have already won the game.
Heck, maybe the BCS will just go ahead and ship the Crystal Trophy to Athens.
You guys are a piece of work.
moleman
August 9th, 2011
12:23 pm
sorry about that CHDawg; i’ll do better next time. GATA!!!
how2fish
August 9th, 2011
12:23 pm
Jarvis congrats and best of luck on the field and in the classroom this year. Go Dogs!
Lowcountry Bulldawg
August 9th, 2011
12:24 pm
I thought the Crystal was enroute to Columbia after listening to so many Feathered Fowls…
Dawgs on Fire
August 9th, 2011
12:33 pm
With jarvis back, the Dawgs will have the best D in the SEC—-mark it down! This D will shut down Boise St and USC for 2 early wins. With Murray and Crowell lighting it up on O, UGA is ready for a big year.
what??
August 9th, 2011
12:34 pm
A heisman trophy RB and the next Thomas Davis all from two guys who have never played a down at UGA. Wow. The real question is exactly how long will it take for the sunshine and lollipops to turn into a bucket of ….. as always? Any takers?
Boise in ATL
August 9th, 2011
12:35 pm
Want to play Georgia when they are full strength – so glad to hear Jones will be on the field.
Playing teams when they fave all their best players is the only way we will improve.
Bankrupt Jim Donnan
August 9th, 2011
12:35 pm
Can someone loan me some money?