FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- The University of Arkansas said Monday
it has signed two-sport threat Michael Grant, who was denied
admission at the University of Georgia because he was once expelled
from a high school.
The 6-foot, 185-pound cornerback and sprinter received national
honors in both track and field and football in high school and
university officials say he is interested in competing in both as a
Razorback.
"We are extremely excited to add a player of the caliber of
Michael Grant at this point in the summer," said football coach
Houston Nutt. "He has outstanding speed. With everything we lost
in the secondary, he will have an opportunity to compete for
playing time as a true freshman."
Georgia's faculty admissions committee rejected Grant because he
was expelled from South Gwinnett High School in the 10th grade
before enrolling at Stephenson High School his junior year. Ronnie
Gartrell, Grant's football coach at Stephenson, said the player was
expelled for an incident involving a female student.
Gartrell did not give further details.
Georgia released Grant from his scholarship after he was denied
admission, and any eligibility questions related to his decision to
attend Arkansas on scholarship have been cleared by Southeastern
Conference officials.
Grant chose Georgia over Florida, Tennessee and Florida State
and did not visit Arkansas during the regular recruiting period.
"As soon as I found out I wasn't going to Georgia, I gathered
all my thoughts about the school I wanted to go to, and Arkansas
just jumped out to me," Grant told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
Arkansas track and field coach John McDonnell hopes Grant will
become the second two-sport athlete from Georgia to become a
standout on the track. Ahmad "Batman" Carroll, also from Atlanta,
Ga., earned All-America honors in the 100 and 200 meters at the
2003 NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships.
"For us, it is great to be back with football in working with
them to have a great sprinter," McDonnell said. "His addition
will make our relay team very strong for next year. We are glad he
is going to be a part of our program."