NCAA: Powe Can't Play For Ole Miss Until At Least 2008

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) _ Defensive tackle Jerrell Powe will be ineligible to practice and compete for Mississippi this season barring a successful appeal. <br/><br/>The NCAA said in a statement Tuesday that

Tuesday, August 28th 2007, 8:33 pm

By: News On 6

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) _ Defensive tackle Jerrell Powe will be ineligible to practice and compete for Mississippi this season barring a successful appeal.

The NCAA said in a statement Tuesday that the highly sought-after recruit can attend classes at Ole Miss and receive financial aid, but he can't play football until at least the fall of 2008 _ and only then if he's met academic eligibility requirements.

Powe, who has learning disabilities, has been working toward eligibility for two years. He signed with the Rebels in 2005, but the NCAA ruled he did not have the required core courses.

He signed again in 2006 after attending a prep school and taking correspondence courses, but the NCAA questioned whether he had received too much help while he attempted to qualify.

``The idea for determining if student-athletes are academically eligible to participate in college sports is to ensure that the rigors of practice and competition do not interfere with the primary reason student-athletes enroll in college _ to get an education,'' said Kevin Lennon, NCAA vice president of membership services. ``Mr. Powe has not achieved sufficient academic success under NCAA rules to permit athletics participation.''

Powe was elevated to the first team by coach Ed Orgeron after just a few workouts. But he was allowed to practice only on a temporary basis while he sought NCAA eligibility.

The NCAA issued a separate ruling Tuesday invalidating a portion of Powe's academic high school records provided to the NCAA because he completed ``a significant amount of coursework in an unusually limited amount of time _ much shorter than the average time it takes students to complete similar courses.''

``Knowing Jerrell Powe, I know he is going to continue to compete,'' Orgeron said after Tuesday's practice. ``There still is a chance for him. I know there are appeals. The bottom line is I think Jerrell will eventually, whether it is this year or next year, will play for Ole Miss and be a great player.''

An NCAA spokeswoman said if Jackson and the school can file all the material required to appeal its decisions by Thursday, they will have an answer on Powe's status next week. The Rebels open the season Saturday at Memphis. .